Thoracic Cavernoma with Intraosseous and Extradural Component Mimicking Metastasis

• Main Authors: Umit Kocaman, Mehmet Haluk Ozer, Muhammet Bahadir Yilmaz, Hakan Yilmaz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Academic Publishing 2016-09-01
• Series: Romanian Neurosurgery
• Subjects: Cavernoma; epidural; thoracic vertebra
• Online Access: https://www.journals.lapub.co.uk/index.php/roneurosurgery/article/view/928

Spinal epidural cavernomas are quite rare lesions and only 5% of all cavernomas are located in the spine. The lesions are most commonly localized in the thoracic region. The differential diagnosis includes neurogenic tumors, lymphoma, schwannoma, meningioma, multiple myeloma, Ewing's sarcoma and metastasis. A 40-year-old male patient presented with paraplegia and MR images revealed an epidural soft tissue constricting the right posterolateral of the cord at the T6 level. Pathology showed cavernous hemangioma. A literature search revealed no other case that so closely mimicked metastasis by invading all components of the thoracic vertebra and also expanding to the epidural distance. We therefore present the case emphasizing these features.