CASE REPORTS   

Chirurgia 2012 December;25(6):441-4

Copyright © 2013 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Microsurgical exicion of a lumbar epidural intraforaminal cavernous malformation. Case report

Ofluoglu A. E., Hergunsel O. B., Erdogan U., Tugcu B.

Department of Neurosurgery, Bakirkoy State Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders, Istanbul, Turkey

Cavernous malformations are vascular lesions composed of dilated, thin-walled vessels filled with blood. Cavernous malformations can be present anywhere throughout the central nervous system; however they are rarely located in the spine. Pure epidural cavernous malformations without vertebral involvement are extremely rare. We present a report of clinical, radiological, surgical and pathological features of an intraforaminal, purely epidural lumbar cavernous malformation. This was a retrospective case analysis. Using the microsurgical technique, the lesion was excised en bloc and the patient was discharged with no radicular pain, no neurological findings and no complain. In conclusion cavernous malformations located in the spine may mimic pathologies related to spinal cord and nerve roots. The recurrence rate after total removal of the mass is low, and the goal of the surgery should be a gross total excision.