Metastatic thymoma presenting as spontaneous epidural lumbar haematoma

Eur Spine J. 2016 May:25 Suppl 1:33-7. doi: 10.1007/s00586-015-4043-6. Epub 2015 May 27.

Abstract

We report the case of a 44-year-old man who was found to have metastatic thymoma to his lumbar spine presenting as a spontaneous epidural haematoma. The man presented with back pain and cauda equina like symptoms in the absence of trauma, antiplatelet or anticoagulant agents. Following a laminectomy and excision of the epidural collection he made a full neurological recovery. Histopathology of the haematoma demonstrated metastatic thymoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such case of metastatic thymoma to the lumbar spine presenting as a spontaneous epidural collection. We believe, in all patients with spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma and a background of malignancy, histopathological analysis should be sought.

Keywords: Epidural; Haematoma; Metastatic; Spontaneous; Thymoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / diagnostic imaging
  • Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Low Back Pain / etiology
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / pathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Polyradiculopathy / etiology
  • Spinal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Thymoma / pathology*
  • Thymoma / secondary*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology*