Multilevel vertebral hemangiomas: two episodes of spinal cord compression at separate levels 10 years apart

This case report presents a 66-year-old woman with multiple vertebral hemangiomas causing spinal cord compression at different levels with a long symptom-free interval between episodes of compression. She presented with back pain and progressive weakness and numbness in her lower limbs for 3 months....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European spine journal 2005-09, Vol.14 (7), p.706-710
Main Authors: Karaeminogullari, Oguz, Tuncay, Cengiz, Demirors, Huseyin, Akin, Kayihan, Sahin, Orcun, Ozyurek, Ayhan, Tandogan, Nevzat Reha
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Case Report
Embolization, Therapeutic
Female
Hemangioma - complications
Hemangioma - pathology
Hemangioma - therapy
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neoplasms, Multiple Primary - complications
Neoplasms, Multiple Primary - pathology
Neoplasms, Multiple Primary - therapy
Recurrence
Spinal Cord Compression - etiology
Spinal Cord Compression - pathology
Spinal Cord Compression - therapy
Spinal Neoplasms - complications
Spinal Neoplasms - pathology
Spinal Neoplasms - therapy
Time Factors
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Summary:This case report presents a 66-year-old woman with multiple vertebral hemangiomas causing spinal cord compression at different levels with a long symptom-free interval between episodes of compression. She presented with back pain and progressive weakness and numbness in her lower limbs for 3 months. Ten years earlier, she had had a symptomatic T4 vertebral hemangioma operated successfully, and had made a full recovery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the thoracic and lumbar spine revealed multiple thoracic and lumbar vertebral hemangiomas. Extraosseous extension of a hemangioma at T9 was causing spinal cord compression. Selective embolization was performed preoperatively, and cord decompression was achieved via anterior T9 corpectomy. The patient's neurological status improved rapidly after surgery. After a course of radiotherapy, she was neurologically intact and could walk independently. One year later, MRI showed complete resolution of the cord edema at T9, and showed regression of the high signal intensity that had been observed at unoperated levels. These findings indicated diminished vascularity and reduced aggression of the tumor.
ISSN:0940-6719
1432-0932
DOI:10.1007/s00586-005-0885-7