title: Epidural spinal meningioma. Role of magnetic resonance in differential diagnosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiology and Radiotherapy, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambardella
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Staropoli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marafioti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomasello
mesh_terms: 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*