A rare case of intramedullary cervical spinal cord meningioma and review of the literature

Spinal Cord. 2008 Sep;46(9):648-50. doi: 10.1038/sj.sc.3102175. Epub 2008 Jan 29.

Abstract

Study design: Case report.

Settings: Department of Neurosurgery, Imam Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Daneshgah Street, Tabriz, East Azerbayjan, Iran.

Report: A 21-year-old man presented with progressive paraesthesia and weakness in the four limbs, with disturbances in the vibration and positional senses. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cervical intramedullary tumour from the cervicomedullary junction to C3. Radical resection of the tumour was performed and histology revealed a meningioma. His clinical outcome after a 3-year follow-up is relatively good.

Conclusion: Intramedullary cervical meningiomas are very rare and have been reported only five times before. Because of its tendency to recur after surgery and because of a possible aggressive behaviour, meticulous histopathological examination is mandatory to predict the evolution and plan the follow-up. Outcome is mainly related to the type of tumour and the complete removal.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cervical Vertebrae / anatomy & histology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Meningioma / pathology*
  • Meningioma / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / prevention & control
  • Neurosurgical Procedures
  • Paresis / etiology
  • Paresis / pathology
  • Paresis / physiopathology
  • Somatosensory Disorders / etiology
  • Somatosensory Disorders / pathology
  • Somatosensory Disorders / physiopathology
  • Spinal Cord / pathology*
  • Spinal Cord / physiopathology
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Treatment Outcome