TY - JOUR
T1 - Multilevel thoracic hemangioma with spinal cord compression in a pediatric patient
T2 - Case report and review of the literature
AU - Cherian, Jacob
AU - Sayama, Christina M.
AU - Adesina, Adekunle M.
AU - Lam, Sandi K.
AU - Luerssen, Thomas G.
AU - Jea, Andrew
PY - 2014/9
Y1 - 2014/9
N2 - Purpose: Vertebral hemangiomas are common benign vascular tumors of the spine. It is very rare for these lesions to symptomatically compress neural elements. If spinal cord compression does occur, it usually involves only a single level. Multilevel vertebral hemangiomas causing symptomatic spinal cord compression have never been reported in the pediatric population to the best of our knowledge. Methods: We report the case of a 15-year-old boy presenting with progressive paraparesis due to thoracic spinal cord compression from a multilevel thoracic hemangioma (T5-T10) with epidural extension. Results: Because of his progressive neurological deficit, he was initially treated with urgent multilevel decompressive laminectomies from T4 to T11. This was to be followed by radiotherapy for residual tumor, but the patient was unfortunately lost to follow-up. He re-presented 3 years later with recurrent paraparesis and progressive disease. This was treated with urgent radiotherapy with good response. As of 6 months follow-up, he has made an excellent neurological recovery. Conclusions: In this report, we present the first case of a child with multilevel vertebral hemangiomas causing symptomatic spinal cord compression and review the literature to detail the pathophysiology, management, and treatment of other cases of spinal cord compression by vertebral hemangiomas.
AB - Purpose: Vertebral hemangiomas are common benign vascular tumors of the spine. It is very rare for these lesions to symptomatically compress neural elements. If spinal cord compression does occur, it usually involves only a single level. Multilevel vertebral hemangiomas causing symptomatic spinal cord compression have never been reported in the pediatric population to the best of our knowledge. Methods: We report the case of a 15-year-old boy presenting with progressive paraparesis due to thoracic spinal cord compression from a multilevel thoracic hemangioma (T5-T10) with epidural extension. Results: Because of his progressive neurological deficit, he was initially treated with urgent multilevel decompressive laminectomies from T4 to T11. This was to be followed by radiotherapy for residual tumor, but the patient was unfortunately lost to follow-up. He re-presented 3 years later with recurrent paraparesis and progressive disease. This was treated with urgent radiotherapy with good response. As of 6 months follow-up, he has made an excellent neurological recovery. Conclusions: In this report, we present the first case of a child with multilevel vertebral hemangiomas causing symptomatic spinal cord compression and review the literature to detail the pathophysiology, management, and treatment of other cases of spinal cord compression by vertebral hemangiomas.
KW - Spinal cord compression
KW - Thoracic spine
KW - Vertebral hemangioma
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U2 - 10.1007/s00381-014-2441-4
DO - 10.1007/s00381-014-2441-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 24864021
AN - SCOPUS:84906939740
SN - 0256-7040
VL - 30
SP - 1571
EP - 1576
JO - Child's Nervous System
JF - Child's Nervous System
IS - 9
ER -