Primary carcinoid tumor of the filum terminale--a case report

Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2010 Nov;152(11):1975-9. doi: 10.1007/s00701-010-0756-9. Epub 2010 Jul 30.

Abstract

Carcinoid tumors with a primary site in the central nervous system have not been reported in literature yet. We report here about a 41-year-old patient with recurrent and progressive low back pain and bilateral S1 radiculopathy on admission. The patient underwent hemi-laminectomies of the vertebral bodies L5 and S1 and an en bloc resection of the tumor. Postoperative histopathological examination resulted in a well-differentiated intrathecal neuroendocrine tumor (carcinoid) of the terminal filum. Postoperative staging showed no pathological abnormalities and no tumor recurrence after 6 months. Even though rare, carcinoids should be considered as differential diagnosis of tumors occurring in the CNS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoid Tumor / pathology*
  • Carcinoid Tumor / physiopathology
  • Carcinoid Tumor / surgery
  • Cauda Equina / anatomy & histology
  • Cauda Equina / pathology*
  • Cauda Equina / surgery
  • Humans
  • Low Back Pain / etiology*
  • Male
  • Radiculopathy / etiology*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / surgery