Cervical intramedullary spinal cavernoma in setting of unresolved myelopathy: A case report

Enyinna Nwachuku, James Duehr, Scott Kulich, Daniel Marker, John Moossy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Spinal cavernous malformations are rare, accounting for approximately 5-12% of all spinal cord vascular lesions. Fortunately, improvements in imaging technologies have made it easier to establish the diagnosis of intramedullary spinal cavernomas (ISCs). Case Description: Here, we report the case of a 63-year-old male with an >11-year history of left-sided radiculopathy, ataxia, and quadriparesis. Initially, radiographic findings were interpreted as consistent with spondylotic myelopathy with cord signal changes from the C3-C7 levels. The patient underwent a C3-C7 laminectomy/foraminotomy with instrumentation. It was only after several symptomatic recurrences and repeated magnetic resonance images (MRI) that the diagnosis of a ventrally-located intramedullary lesion, concerning for a cavernoma, at the level C6 was established. Conclusion: Early and repeated enhanced MR studies may be required to correctly establish the diagnosis and determine the optimal surgical management of ISCs.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberA67
JournalSurgical Neurology International
Volume11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cervical spine
  • Complex surgery
  • Diagnosis
  • Excision
  • Intramedullary spinal cavernoma
  • Laminectomy
  • Magnetic resonance
  • Myelotomy

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