[Intraspinal paraganglioma. Apropos of 3 cases with a review of the literature].

The authors present three cases of paraganglioma located in the cauda equina. In all cases pre-operative diagnosis was neurinoma of the cauda equina and only the histology permitted correct identification. All were intradural extramedullary tumors and in two cases the presenting and dominant symptom was low back pain and sciatica. The remaining third case experimented a paraparesis with urinary and fecal incontinence. The follow-up (range of 4 months-4 years) after total excision was uneventful in two cases and showed in the third case with preoperative paraparesis, some persistent urinary incontinence (follow-up: 3 years) with good motor recovery. The light microscopic features were a Zellballen pattern of cells containing argyrophil granules. Electron microscopy was not performed. The most likely theory regarding the embryogenesis of cauda equina paragangliomas is that they arise from pre-existing paraganglia, possibly of the visceral-autonomic group. The prognosis after complete excision appears to be good. The literature is thoroughly reviewed.