Intramedullary hemangioblastoma of the thoracic cord with a microsurgical approach: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND

Spinal cord hemangioblastomas (HBs) account for 2-15% of all spinal cord neoplasms. They are the third most common primary intramedullary tumor (1-5%). Here, 72-year-old female presented with a thoracic intramedullary spinal HB that responded well to surgery.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 72-year-old female presented with a 3-4 years of progressive paresthesias and paraparesis. On examination, she exhibited diffuse distal weakness of the lower extremities. The magnetic resonance scan showed an intramedullary expansive lesion at the T1-T2 level that markedly enhanced with contrast with both proximal and distal hydromyelia. Surgery included a C7 partial and T1-T2 total laminectomies performed under microscope visualization with intraoperative monitoring. At surgery, there was a well-documented cleavage plane between the tumor and the cord; excision was facilitated using the cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator device.

CONCLUSION

Surgery is the gold standard treatment for treating/resecting HBs and should include utilization of an operating microscope and intraoperative monitoring.