Radiation-induced spinal cord cavernous malformation. Case report

J Neurosurg. 2005 Jan;102(1 Suppl):101-4. doi: 10.3171/ped.2005.102.1.0101.

Abstract

The authors report a case of a 16-year-old girl who presented with progressive gait difficulty 8 years after undergoing spinal radiation therapy for spinal astrocytoma. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed intramedullary multicentric cavity formation in the T4-10 area. Extensive subtotal resection was performed and a pathological examination of the excised tissue demonstrated cavernous malformation with radiation-induced degeneration in the surrounding vessels. This is believed to be the third case of de novo formation of an intramedullary cavernous malformation following spinal radiation therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Arteriovenous Malformations / etiology*
  • Astrocytoma / radiotherapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Radiation Injuries / pathology*
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / etiology*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Time Factors