Turkish Neurosurgery
2009 , Vol 19 , Num 3
Pure Ventral Midline Long Segment Schwannoma of the Cervicodorsal Spine: A Case Report
Department of Neurosurgery, Seth G.S. Medical College & King Edward, Mumbai, India
Spinal intradural extramedullary schwannomas commonly occur posterolateral
or anterolateral to the spinal cord. A case of a pure midline ventrally situated
cervicodorsal extramedullary schwannoma in a 33-year-old female patient with
subacute cord compression and sphincteric involvement is presented. Spinal
MR imaging showed a C2-D3 midline ventrally situated extramedullary tumor
with severe spinal cord compression. It was resected through a posterolateral
approach. Histology was consistent with a schwannoma. There was a gradual
improvement in left-sided spasticity but the patient had mild diaphragmatic
paresis. MR imaging showed no evidence of the tumor at followup after 6
months. The radiological features, pathogenesis and surgical strategies in
management of these difficult tumors are discussed and the relevant literature
is briefly reviewed.
Keywords :
Extramedullary, Intradural, Schwannoma, Spine, Surgery, Ventral location