Abstract: Spinal angiolipomas are rare benign tumours most commonly found in the thoracic spine. A case of an extradural lumbar angiolipoma in a 47-year-old female is described. She had a recent history of lower back pain accompanied by sciatica. Lumbar MRI revealed a dorsal epidural mass at the L2-L3 level. The patient underwent a bilateral laminectomy, in which the tumour was totally excised. The pathological examination indicated haemangiolipoma. Post-operatively, the patient's neurological signs and symptoms improved remarkably quickly. MRI at 6 and 18 months after surgery revealed no evidence of tumour recurrence.
Abstract: 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.
Abstract: Solitary brain affection is rare in echinococcosis. We report the case of a 35-year-old woman presenting with symptomatic grand-mal epilepsy due to a right frontal, partially cystic space-occupying lesion. Pre-operative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested a cystic astrocytoma. However, histological examination yielded the diagnosis of a 'chitinoma', a rare subtype of solid cerebral hydatid disease (echinococcosis). It mimicked a primary brain tumor and, therefore, posed a diagnostic problem. We present the--to our knowledge--first MRI scans in a case of a histologically proven chitinoma.
Abstract: STUDY DESIGN: The clinical data of five patients with spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) were reviewed. OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical outcome of patients with SSEH after surgical decompression. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The outcome in SSEH is essentially determined by the timing of the operation. Therefore, early and precise diagnosis is necessary. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of five patients with SSEH was performed. The clinical data were stratified according to the Frankel Score. Special interest was given to the relevance of rapid and exact diagnosis and immediate therapeutic intervention. RESULTS: Diagnosis of SSEH was established preoperatively by means of computed tomography (one case) or magnetic resonance imaging (three patients) and intraoperatively in one case. Lumbar myelography had been false negative in one patient, computed tomography false-negative in two patients. Surgical decompression was performed in four patients within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms. Favorable postoperative functional results were found only in one patient whose symptoms had been present for less than 12 hours and in the case of an incomplete cauda equina syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current series demonstrate both the superiority of magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosis of SSEH as well as the necessity of early decompressive surgery in cases of sensorimotor paralysis after SSEH.
Abstract: Based on the catamnestic evaluation of our own case material and the compilation of recent series from the literature, the indication for surgical intervention in spinal metastases is considered in the light of factors influencing the prognosis of the underlying malignant disease.
Abstract: Vegetative disturbances were observed in 88 out of 102 patients, 86%, after a primary brain lesion during onset of brain death. Tachycardia was most common in 64%, hypotonia below 80 mm Hg and hypertonia above 170 mm Hg were present in about half of all cases. Hyperthermia above 40 degrees C was noted in 25%, hypothermia below 36 degrees C was observed in 31%. The kind of underlying brain lesion had no regular influence on the vegetative disturbances. In 5 out of 6 younger patients these disturbances were less pronounced.
Abstract: This report deals with a case of rhabdomyosarcoma in the upper thoracic spine. It is of particular interest, not only for the rarity of type and location of this tumour, but for its clinical course, which presented fluctuations of neurological status, included an acute demonstration of complete paraplegia followed by full recovery after conservative treatment, and gradual relapsing of neurological deficit, one year later.
