Pilocytic astrocytoma of a spinal nerve root. Case report.
A case of pilocytic astrocytoma involving a spinal nerve root is reported. A 39-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of progressive pain and numbness, predominantly in the S-1 dermatome. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed an intradural lesion at the tip of the conus medullaris. The intradural tumor was excised as was the sacrificed nerve root. Histological examination showed a pilocytic astrocytoma in which there were unusual features of calcification and ossification. At 3-year follow-up review MR imaging demonstrated no residual tumor. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of a primary pilocytic astrocytoma, a tumor typically of central nervous system origin, arising from a spinal nerve root.
Department of Neurosurgery, Leeds General Infirmary, United Kingdom.
Mark Robert
MR
Philipson
Jake
J
Timothy
Aruna
A
Chakrobarthy
Gerry
G
Towns
D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000473:pathology; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots