1/151. Infiltrating extradural spinal angiolipoma. BACKGROUND: Angiolipomas are considered to be rare. They are benign mesenchymal tumors generally located in the subcutaneous tissue of trunk and limbs. methods: The authors report a thoracic epidural angiolipoma mimicking a vertebro-epidural metastasis. The patient suffered from medullary compression related to an extradural mass in T6. RESULTS: Pathological ex-, amination was obtained from tumoral samples. They consisted of mature adipose tissue with numerous sections of abnormal vascular channels. CONCLUSIONS: Reviewing literature particular attention is paid to some questions raised in connection with different kinds of vertebro-epidural tumors. The authors give importance to relationships between angiolipomas and angiomyolipomas using MRI as a tool in differential diagnosis. Pathogenesis is evokated especially regarding the role of corticotherapy, the case herein reported lying within this therapeutical context. ( info) |
2/151. Extensive epidural teratoma in early infancy treated by multi-stage surgery. We report a rare case of extensive extradural teratoma successfully treated by multi-stage laminotomy and thoracotomy. A 34-day-old, dyspneic infant had a large posterior mediastinal mass identified on a chest X-ray radiograph. Imaging studies disclosed that the mass originated from the extradural space at the level of the lower thoracic spine, extending cephalad to C4 and caudad to L4 and severely compressing the spinal cord anteriorly, causing paraplegia. The tumor expanded bilaterally through the intraspinal foramina, coalescing to form a huge mediastinal mass. The upper half of the teratoma was removed utilizing a laminotomy from T3 through T9; 2 months later the lower half was excised via a laminotomy from T11 to L3. An additional procedure was required to resect recurrent tumor through a laminotomy from T8 to T12. The reconstructed vertebral arches were well-preserved in shape, with an almost normal spinal canal. ( info) |
3/151. Neuropathic arthropathy: a forgotten diagnosis? Two recent cases involving the hip. Two cases of neuropathic arthropathy of the hip are reported. One was the first manifestation of tabes dorsalis in a 74-year-old man, whereas the second occurred in a 47-year-old woman with a history of spina bifida and L2-L5 epidural lipoma. Radiographic joint destruction occurred within five and three months, respectively. The main clinical and radiological features of neuropathic arthropathy are reviewed, and diagnostic pitfalls are discussed. There are no specific laboratory tests or histologic findings. This now rare condition should be routinely considered in patients with severe joint destruction contrasting with minimal pain. The reasons for the decision to use trochanteric-iliac coaptation in one of our patients and a wait-and-see approach in the other are explained. The literature is reviewed. Ten cases treated by joint replacement have been reported. However, neither joint replacement nor arthrodesis seem capable of restoring satisfactory hip function. ( info) |
4/151. A case of Down's syndrome associated with progressive extradural neuroblastoma. We describe a case of Down's syndrome associated with progressive extradural neuroblastoma. Postmortem aspiration of the bone marrow revealed diffuse infiltration by tumor cells, in which trisomy 21 was found by fluorescence in hybridization in situ. ( info) |
| OBJECTIVES: To provide an overview on the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC). DATA SOURCES: Published articles, book chapters, and research reports. CONCLUSIONS: MESCC is a common oncologic emergency that requires prompt recognition and emergency treatment to relieve pain and preserve neurologic function. The signs and symptoms of MESCC are easily detected and can be integral assessment components of the nursing care of any patient with a solid tumor. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: nurses can have a dramatic impact on preventing neurologic complications caused by this oncologic metastatic problem. When neurologic compromise is not prevented or reversed, nurses also can provide expert care to patients and families in the rehabilitation phase of MESCC. ( info) |
6/151. Intraspinal primitive neuroectodermal tumour: report of two cases and review of the literature. Two patients with primary intraspinal primitive neuroectodermal tumour are presented. In a 32-year-old man, the tumour evolved intradurally from a sacral nerve root. Despite repeated surgery and radiochemotherapy, the patient suffered multiple intraspinal tumour relapses and intracranial seedings, and died 29 months after the first diagnosis. In a 17-year-old male adolescent, the tumour was located in the lumbar epidural space, extending into the paraspinal muscles. Following resection and radiochemotherapy, the patient is free from disease 23 months after the initial presentation. The clinical, radiological, histopathological and cytogenetic findings of both patients are presented and the relevant literature is reviewed. Particular attention is given to the histogenetic relationship between peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumour and Ewing's sarcoma. ( info) |
7/151. Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia causing cauda equina compression: case report. OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (Masson's vegetant hemangioendothelioma) is a rare condition affecting the neuraxis. In the literature, only one case of this lesion involving the vertebral canal with spinal cord compression has been reported. We present a case of cauda equina compression due to this abnormality. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 17-year-old boy was admitted at our hospital with pain, numbness, paresis of the left lower extremity, and bladder dysfunction of approximately 1 month's duration. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine revealed a tumor within the spinal canal at the T12-L1 level. INTERVENTION: The patient underwent a T12-L1 laminectomy. An epidural red nodular tumor was visualized and totally resected. The findings of the pathological examination were compatible with intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia. At follow-up examination 1 month after the operation, the patient had complete resolution of the pain, and the motor deficit and bladder dysfunction had improved significantly. CONCLUSION: This rare benign vascular lesion may be clinically and histopathologically mistaken for an angiosarcoma. Because the intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia can be cured by complete surgical resection, it is important to distinguish between these two lesions to avoid inappropriate aggressive treatment. ( info) |
8/151. Mild gait abnormality and leg discomfort in a child secondary to extradural ganglioneuroma. Ganglioneuromas are benign and slow-growing tumors that most commonly originate from the sympathetic trunk. Ganglioneuromas often decrease in size and rarely require reoperation. Changes in gait or the onset of limb pain without a discernible local cause are indications for investigation of patients for possible intraspinal pathology. We report the case of a 5-year-old boy who presented with seemingly static symptoms, while the slow-growing tumor had enveloped nerve roots and caused bone destruction of the vertebrae. ( info) |
9/151. Epidural compression of the cauda equina caused by vertebral osteoblastic metastasis of prostatic carcinoma: resolution by hormonal therapy. A 59 year old man with prostatic carcinoma developed epidural compression of the cauda equina caused by bony expansion from a vertebral osteoblastic metastasis. For medical reasons he could not undergo radiation or surgery. Hormonal therapy alone relieved his low back pain and restored ambulation and urinary function. Postmyelography CT showed that the bony expansion from the vertebra had completely disappeared after treatment. This is the first report of remarkable improvement due to hormonal therapy alone. ( info) |
10/151. Surgical decompression and radiation therapy in epidural metastasis from cervical cancer. spinal cord compression by epidural metastasis is considered an exceptional complication in patients with cervical carcinoma. We report three patients treated for a cervical carcinoma who developed epidural metastasis with spinal cord compression at 9, 25 and 48 months after primary treatment of the uterine malignancy. All patients had poorly-differentiated adenocarcinomas with lymphovascular space invasion, and two had lymph node metastasis. All patients underwent emergency decompressive laminectomy followed by radiotherapy and a partial recovery of the neurological function was achieved. In two patients the spinal cord was the only site of recurrent disease, whereas the other had lung and brain metastasis at the time of epidural involvement diagnosis. All three patients, however, died of disseminated disease. Surgical decompression followed by radiation therapy may result in a complete preservation of the neurologic functions in patients with spinal cord compression secondary to metastatic carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Considering the propensity for disseminated disease, long term survival might be achieved only with the use of effective chemotherapy. ( info) |