Granulomatous angiitis of the spinal cord: a case report.
A 12-year-old caucasian boy presented with a thoracic myelopathy. Magnetic resonance T1-weighted images revealed an enhancing lesion infiltrating the lower thoracic spinal cord to the level of the conus. Evaluation of the lesion by open biopsy revealed granulomatous angiitis of the spinal cord. Granulomatous angiitis is a rare vasculitic process that typically involves the brain and, less frequently, the spinal cord. Diagnosis must be established early by histopathological examination so that treatment with corticosteroids and/or cytotoxic agents may be instituted. When left untreated, patients with granulomatous angiitis of the spinal cord have developed fatal intracranial manifestations.
Giovanini
M A
MA
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville.
Eskin
T A
TA
Mukherji
S K
SK
Mickle
J P
JP
D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology