Epidural spinal meningioma. Role of magnetic resonance in differential diagnosis.
A rare case of an extradurally growing spinal meningioma in an elderly woman is reported. Neuro-imaging, particularly magnetic resonance (MR), allowed to recognize the lesion, which, otherwise, could raise problems of differential diagnosis with a spinal metastasis. An emergency operation, required by a sudden neurological deterioration, was decisive in recovery of neurological deficits. In a review of the literature, extradurally growing spinal meningiomas appear to occur with a higher frequency than it is thought. Therefore, they are to be suspected when dealing with extradural spinal lesions.
Gambardella
G
G
Institute of Radiology and Radiotherapy, University of Messina, Italy.
Toscano
S
S
Staropoli
C
C
Longo
M
M
D'Amico
D
D
Marafioti
T
T
Tomasello
F
F
D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*