Foraminal epidural extra osseous cavernous hemangioma of the cervical spine: a case report.
METHODS
A case report of purely epidural foraminal cervical cavernous angioma assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and diagnosed at pathologic study.


OBJECTIVE
To illustrate a rare cause of cervical foraminal mass mimicking a schwannoma.


BACKGROUND
Several cases of epidural cavernous angioma have been reported. A purely epidural cavernous angioma in a cervical foramen has never been reported in the literature.


METHODS
A 36-year-old man sought treatment for acute weakness in his right upper limb with radicular distribution. On magnetic resonance images, the lesion appeared as a foraminal mass with no bone invasion or hematic components. It enhanced after intravenous administration of Gadolinium. Pathologic study after surgery showed a typical cavernous angioma.


RESULTS
The patient improved slightly after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical and radiologic presentation could be confusing in a purely foraminal epidural cervical cavernous hemangioma. Cavernous hemangioma must be known as a differential diagnosis of a foraminal schwannoma. Diagnosis of cavernous angioma is made easily on pathologic examination.
Carlier
R
R
Departments of Radiology and Rehabilitation, Raymond Poincar¿e Hospital, Garches, France. robert.carlier@rc.a-hop-paris.fr
Engerand
S
S
Lamer
S
S
Vallee
C
C
Bussel
B
B
Polivka
M
M
D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004824:Epidural Space; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000473:pathology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*