1/16. Intraosseous calcifying pseudotumor of the axis: a case report.STUDY DESIGN: A case report and review of the literature. OBJECTIVE: To present the first case of intraosseous calcifying pseudotumor arising from the axis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Calcifying pseudotumor is a very rare disease. Only 24 cases have been previously reported. methods: A case of calcifying pseudotumor involving the body, dens, and laminae of the axis in a 60-year-old male patient was managed with total laminectomy of the axis and instrumented occipitocervical fusion, followed by the curettage of the body and dens of the axis and autogenous iliac bone graft. medical records, imaging studies, microscopic findings, and related literature are reviewed. RESULTS: Microscopic examination showed amorphous, basophilic, and chondroid calcifying masses surrounded with palisading histiocytes and foreign body-type giant cells. The findings were consistent with those of calcifying pseudotumors previously reported in other sites of the body. At 24 months after operation, a significant reduction of neck pain was achieved. But there was evidence of local recurrence of the lesion in the body and dens of the axis with a local progression of the preexisting lesion in the facet joints. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of intraosseous calcifying pseudotumor arising from the axis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/16. Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion using miniplate and screws in a 7-year-old child with eosinophilic granuloma of the cervical spine.STUDY DESIGN: This is a case report of a 7-year-old child with eosinophilic granuloma in the cervical spine, which underwent anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion by using Miniplate and screws. OBJECTIVES: To describe the use of Miniplate and screws for pediatric cervical anterior fusion. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: eosinophilic granuloma is a rare disease causing destructive bony lesions of the cervical spine in children. A complete resection and fusion were considered to be the preferable treatment in our case. However, cervical spinal fusion and instrumentation in children may be technically difficult because of the size of the vertebral body and the iliac bone. In addition, a proper device for an internal fixation in pediatric patients is not yet available. methods: A case of eosinophilic granuloma in pediatric spine was presented. RESULTS: We confirmed successful bony fusion and the restoration of the normal cervical curvature without recurrence of the tumor 2 years after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: For proper internal fixation and prevention of dislodgement of the grafted bone, we used the Miniplate and screws as internal fixator after intralesional resection of the tumor mass.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/16. Primary amyloidoma of the thoracic spine presenting with acute paraplegia.BACKGROUND: Primary solitary amyloidoma of the spine is a rare disease characterized by localized deposition of amyloid. To the best of our knowledge, there have been only 14 cases previously reported in the literature. patients with focal spinal amyloidoma usually have relatively long symptomatic periods preoperatively, ranging from 3 weeks to 6 years (mean: 12 months). Only two reported patients had acute paraplegia. We add a third case of a thoracic spine amyloidoma presenting with acute paraplegia. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 65-year-old man presented with a three-day history of progressive paraplegia and urinary retention. He was found to have severe cord compression at T2 on magnetic resonance imaging. He underwent emergent decompressive laminectomy with instrumentation for spinal stabilization. Histopathology revealed abundant amyloid deposits. A systemic work-up was negative for amyloidosis. The patient showed marked neurological improvement with residual mild spastic gait after 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Primary spinal amyloidoma with acute paraplegia is rare. One-stage surgery combining prompt decompression and stabilization of the spinal column is mandatory in cases of spinal amyloidoma with acute myelopathy, because primary solitary amyloidoma carries a good prognosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/16. Multiple hydatid cysts of the neck, the nasopharynx and the skull base revealing cervical vertebral hydatid disease.Hydatid disease is caused by the parasitic tapeworm echinococcus. This parasite in larval stage can thrive in many parts of the body, most commonly in the liver and the lung. Hydatid disease in the head and neck is uncommon and hydatid cyst presents rarely as a cervical mass. Cervical vertebral echinococcosis is rare. We report a 14-year-old girl with multiple cervical spine hydatid cysts of the C1-C2 vertebrae that spread into the surrounding paravertebral tissues and involve the nasopharynx and the skull base particularly the left jugular foramen. This process has caused a progressive swelling in the left side of the neck located in the retrostyloid compartment of the parapharyngeal space with paralysis of cranial nerves (VI, IX, X, XI, XII). The diagnosis was made based on the image obtained from CT and MRI examinations. Characteristics of this rare disease, diagnosis and treatment difficulty are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/16. Idiopathic symptomatic epidural lipomatosis of the lumbar spine.BACKGROUND: Symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) of the lumbar spine is a rare disease, often associated with steroid overload. Idiopathic lipomatosis is even much less frequent. signs and symptoms depend upon the level and degree of nerve root compression. diagnosis is best based on MRI. Weight reduction can be curative, however after failure of medical treatment or in severe cases surgical decompression should be performed. METHOD: Four patients with severe symptoms of lumbar spinal epidural lipomatosis were treated by surgical decompression. Patient history and neurological examination are described, diagnostic imaging is demonstrated, surgical treatment and outcome are documented. Different surgical techniques including laminectomy, interlaminar fenestration and lateral recess decompression were applied and are discussed. FINDINGS: All four patients improved after surgery. No surgical complications were observed. Even though limited to four cases this is the second largest series of operated idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis. INTERPRETATION: Surgical decompression was effective in improving symptoms in severe lumbar idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/16. Spinal African histoplasmosis simulating tuberculous spondylitis.Spinal histoplasmosis is a rare disease condition that must be differentiated from other common inflammatory lesions of the spine such as tuberculosis. A case is presented of a pathologically proven African spinal hisptoplasmosis in a 39-year-old female. paraplegia and fever were the patient's clinical findings. Cervical plain radiography demonstrated a lytic destructive process of the lower cervical spine with radiographic signs similar to tuberculosis. The surgical management and chemotherapy of histoplasmosis are briefly discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/16. Intradural extramedullary mass formation in spinal cord sarcoidosis: case report and literature review.STUDY DESIGN: A case of myelopathy caused by intradural extramedullary spinal cord sarcoidosis. OBJECTIVES: To report a rare case of mass formation in spinal cord sarcoidosis and discuss the diagnostic approach and therapeutic management of this condition. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: spinal cord sarcoidosis is a rare condition that is difficult to diagnose, and intradural extramedullary mass formation is even rarer. MATERIALS AND methods: A 42-year-old woman first noticed numbness in her fingers, and these symptoms gradually spread to her hands and feet. MRI revealed an intradural extramedullary mass, as confirmed by an isointensity T1 and low-intensity T2 signal, and also enhanced by Gd-DTPA. The authors suspected the mass to be a meningioma and performed surgery to resect it. RESULTS: The mass was observed through the dura, and it was twined with the rootlet. After surgery, the patient experienced temporary paralysis of her right upper extremity, followed rapidly by almost complete neurologic recovery. Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy was noted and this was diagnosed histologically as lung sarcoidosis. One year after surgery, a complete AV block occurred because of heart sarcoidosis and a pacemaker was inserted. CONCLUSIONS: spinal cord sarcoidosis is rare disease and is difficult to diagnose, but when a mass is present in the spinal canal, it is important to remain open to the possibility of spinal cord sarcoidosis. Besides if it is diagnosed as spinal cord sarcoidosis, it is also important to remain systemic sarcoidosis before, during, and after surgery to check general conditions and to guide appropriate treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/16. Spontaneous resolution of lumbar vertebral eosinophilic granuloma.eosinophilic granuloma (EG) is a rare disease but is more common in adults than children. It's often self-limiting. Spinal involvement is rare. It is the localized and most benign form of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (previously known as histiocytosis X), characterised by lytic lesions in one or more bones. Spontaneous resolution of vertebral body lesions is very rare. In this case, the patient had one EG in a cervical vertebra and a similar lesion in a lumbar vertebra. This case is important because it featured a symptomatic lesion in the cervical spine accompanied by an asymptomatic lesion in a lumbar vertebra. We treated the cervical lesion by surgical fusion and followed the lumbar lesion up conservatively, with the patient in a corset. After 8 years of follow-up, control MRI showed that the lumbar lesion had spontaneously resolved.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/16. Anterior cervicothoracic meningocele treated by cystopleural shunt. Case report and review of the literature.Anterior meningocele is a rare disease which is commonly observed in the sacral region. Anterio cervicothoracic meningocele is generally diagnosed in adult age and there are few reports in infancy. Different treatment procedures are performed such as ligation, resection and wrapping. The case of a 9-month-old male infant with acute respiratory distress and cyanosis is described. He had also recurrent lung infections for 3 months. The magnetic resonance imaging revealed an anterior cervicothoracic meningocele which was compressing the lung, aorta, esophagus and trachea associated with skeletal abnormalities and C2 - C7 syringohydromyelia. There was no evidence of neurofibromatosis. He was submitted to thoracotomy and treated with cystopleural shunt without valve system. Postoperatively his respiratory distress improved dramatically. Radiologically, the size of meningocele decreased and the syringomyelic cavity disappeared. There was no evidence of recurrence during his followup. Cystopleural shunt procedure is a reliable, simple and effective treatment modality in anterior cervicothoracic meningocele cases. This treatment regimen prevents possible neural damage and also treatments to the associated anomalies such as syringohydromyelia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/16. actinomycosis or tuberculosis? A diagnostic dilemma.actinomycosis of spine is a very rare disease. Very few cases have been studied and reported in the past. The dilemma of distinguishing the condition from other disorders relies on the competency of the treating physician and a proper knowledge of the subtle radiological differences between these disorders especially in underdeveloped and developing countries where tuberculosis still has a very strong foothold. A rare atypical case of actinomycosis of spine resembling tuberculosis is presented.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |