1/373. Conus medullaris hematomyelia associated with an intradural-extramedullary cavernous angioma.A unique case of a 50-year-old woman with a conus medullaris hematomyelia associated with a low thoracic intradural-extramedullary cavernous angioma localized 2 cm above is reported. The patient had a 2-month history of progressive paraparesis, hypoesthesia of legs, and bowel and bladder disturbances. The symptoms worsened acutely during the last days before admission. A thoraco-lumbar MRI showed a space-occupying lesion at T10-T11 (vertebral interspace associated with a hematomyelia localized about 2 cm below. A T10-L1 laminectomy was performed and complete removal of both lesions was obtained with microsurgical technique. A non-traumatic hematomyelia should always prompt the suspicion of a spinal AVM or, more rarely, of a cavernous angioma. The possible anatomical and clinical correlations of this unusual association are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = dura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/373. Cervical epidural lipoblastomatosis: changing MR appearance after chemotherapy.Lipoblastomatosis is a locally infiltrative tumor of embryonic fat. We describe the MR appearance of cervical lipoblastomatosis with epidural extension. The initial MR study showed features of a soft-tissue mass; a subsequent MR examination, performed after chemotherapy, depicted the lesion as a typical lipoma of high signal intensity on T1-weighted images and of intermediate signal on T2-weighted sequences.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = dura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/373. Spinal manifestation of metastasizing leiomyosarcoma.STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: To provide additional information on possible relations between uterine and spinal manifestations of leiomyosarcoma. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spinal metastases and primary spinal manifestation of leiomyosarcoma and other malignant smooth muscle tumors are rarely observed. methods: Clinical and radiologic follow-up of a patient with a spinal tumor. RESULTS: A 46-year-old women had rapidly progressive paraplegia caused by an extramedullary lesion in the extradural space at T2-T3, with spinal cord compression. After surgical decompression, the resected tumor was histologically classified as a leiomyosarcoma. Diagnostic work-up failed to detect the primary tumor site. Previous medical history had been uneventful except for hysterectomy 3 years earlier for a leiomyoma. Extended necroses and focal metaplasia were already described in the hysterectomy specimen indicating malignant disease; however, it was not definitely diagnosed. Multiple leiomyosarcoma metastases developed 22 months later. CONCLUSIONS: In retrospect, the origin of the leiomyosarcoma that manifested in the thoracic spine of the patient must be reconsidered. Rather than a primary dural leiomyosarcoma, this tumor represented the first evidence of recurrence of a missed diagnosis of early-stage uterine leiomyosarcoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.4keywords = dura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/373. Cervical epidural rhabdomyosarcoma with a leukemia-like presentation in an aged patient--case report.A 77-year-old female presented with rhabdomyosarcoma manifesting as leukemia-like indications. Neuroimagings detected cervical and paravertebral masses. Immunohistochemical study of the surgically excised mass lesion from the cervical spine established the correct diagnosis. This leukemia-like presentation of rhabdomyosarcoma requires a multidisciplinary approach to establish the correct diagnosis and treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.8keywords = dura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/373. Posterior mediastinal capillary hemangioma with extradural extension resembling neuroblastoma.We present two patients with posterior mediastinal capillary hemangiomas that were paraspinal and had intraspinal extension. Computed tomography demonstrated the strikingly hypervascular nature of these tumors, distinguishing them from neuroblastoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.8keywords = dura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/373. Occipitocervicothoracic fixation for spinal instability in patients with neoplastic processes.OBJECT: Occipitocervicothoracic (OCT) fixation and fusion is an infrequently performed procedure to treat patients with severe spinal instability. Only three cases have been reported in the literature. The authors have retrospectively reviewed their experience with performing OCT fixation in patients with neoplastic processes, paying particular attention to method, pain relief, and neurological status. methods: From July 1994 through July 1998, 13 of 552 patients who underwent a total of 722 spinal operations at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have required OCT fixation for spinal instability caused by neoplastic processes (12 of 13 patients) or rheumatoid arthritis (one of 13 patients). Fixation was achieved by attaching two intraoperatively contoured titanium rods to the occiput via burr holes and Luque wires or cables; to the cervical spinous processes with wisconsin wires; and to the thoracic spine with a combination of transverse process and pedicle hooks. Crosslinks were used to attain additional stability. In all patients but one arthrodesis was performed using allograft. At a follow-up duration of 1 to 45 months (mean 14 months), six of the 12 patients with neoplasms remained alive, whereas the other six patients had died of malignant primary disease. There were no deaths related to the surgical procedure. Postoperatively, one patient experienced respiratory insufficiency, and two patients required revision of rotational or free myocutaneous flaps. All patients who presented with spine-based pain experienced a reduction in pain, as measured by a visual analog scale for pain. All patients who were neurologically intact preoperatively remained so; seven of seven patients with neurological impairment improved; and six of seven patients improved one Frankel grade. There were no occurrences of instrumentation failure or hardware-related complications. In one patient a revision of the instrumentation was required 13.5 months following the initial surgery for progression of malignant fibrous histiosarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients, OCT fixation is an effective means of attaining stabilization that can provide pain relief and neurological preservation or improvement.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = dura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/373. Anterior transsternal approach to the upper thoracic spine.Cervicothoracic junction and upper thoracic spine down to T4 can be reached through anterior approach via sternotomy. Transsternal approach is the best route to gain access to lesions localized within vertebral bodies of the upper thoracic spine allowing for their resection, interbody fusion and replacement with bone cement. Consecutive modifications of transsternal approach evolved towards less extensive osteotomy from full median sternotomy, through manubriotomy with clavicle resection to partial lateral manubriotomy. Less extensive modifications provide limited lateral exposure of the spine and are more demanding technically. We present two cases of the upper thoracic spine tumours operated on through full medial sternotomy. We believe that median sternotomy has several advantages over less extensive modifications: it is technically simple to perform approach for trained thoracic surgeon, safer as it provides better exposure of the mediastinum and thus sufficient control of great vessels including subclavian ones, gives better exposure of T3, T4 and even T5 vertebral bodies, allows perpendicular sight and attack to anterior surface of the upper thoracic spine and therefore good visualizing of the posterior longitudinal ligament and dura, do not destabilize shoulder girdle nor affect function of the upper limb. Additional caudal exposure of the thoracic spine as down as T5 can be obtained by dissecting a plane between the brachiocephalic vein, vena cava superior and ascending aorta.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = dura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/373. Prenatal percutaneous needle drainage of cystic sacrococcygeal teratomas.Prenatal ultrasound (US) permits in utero diagnosis of sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT), follow-up of tumor size, and the early identification of complications, allowing for a more timely and appropriate delivery. The recommended management of large SCTs is delivery by cesarean section (CS) to prevent dystocia, tumor rupture, hemorrhage, and death. However, even delivery by CS can be difficult, necessitating a large hysterotomy that adds to maternal morbidity. The authors report two cases of cystic SCTs in which prenatal percutaneous drainage allowed for an uncomplicated vaginal delivery. In the first case, a large unilocular cystic SCT was diagnosed at 31 weeks' gestation on prenatal US. The fetal presentation was breech, and the mass was steadily increasing in size, preventing spontaneous version. At 37 5/7 weeks, the cyst was percutaneously drained under US guidance allowing for successful external version. Repeat drainage just before induction of labor permitted a successful vaginal delivery. In the second case, the cystic SCT was percutaneously drained just before induction of labor at full term, again allowing for an uncomplicated vaginal delivery. Prenatal percutaneous needle drainage of cystic SCTs offers an alternative to CS that results in decreased risks for both mother and fetus.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16400713430564keywords = mater (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/373. Radiologic and surgical aspects of pure spinal epidural cavernous angiomas. Report on 5 cases and review of the literature.BACKGROUND: Cavernous angiomas (CAs) that are localized completely in the spinal epidural space are uncommon vascular malformations. Although they have increasingly been reported in the literature in recent years, diagnostic and surgical features are not clearly defined. methods: We report five patients with pure spinal epidural cavernous angiomas (PSECAs) and review the literature, focusing on their radiologic and surgical characteristics. We also compare these tumors with other extra-axial CAs as well as with their intra-axial counterparts. RESULTS: PSECAs, like all other extra-axial CAs, differ from intra-axial ones on MRI: the hemorrhagic variant is less frequent, hemosiderin rim is rare, the signal is different, and contrast enhancement is the rule. They are very similar to spinal meningiomas but they differ in their growth pattern and morphology, since they infiltrate intervertebral foramina and have an oval shape. In PSECA, intraoperative bleeding is rarely profuse, in contrast to other extra-axial CAs, especially those of the cavernous sinus. CONCLUSIONS: On MRI, PSECAs and other extra-axial CAs constitute a homogeneous group since they enhance significantly. At operation, since there is rarely enough bleeding to limit removal, radical excision of PSECAs can be achieved with good results.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.2keywords = dura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/373. Radiological and histological findings in spinal intramedullary angiolipoma.We report an intramedullary angiolipoma with spinal cord compression studied by MRI, angiography and CT. Angiolipomas of the spine are rare benign tumours containing vascular and mature adipose elements. They are epidural in more than 90 % of the cases; only three cases of intramedullary angiolipoma are described. The clinical picture is nonspecific, but MRI and CT suggest the diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = dura (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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