Intradural venous varix: a rare cause of an intradural lumbar spine lesion.
METHODS
A case of intradural venous varix producing a mass-like lesion in the lumbar spine is reported.


OBJECTIVE
To present a rare cause of an intradural mass lesion along the cauda equina. To present radiologic findings of this entity and to offer a hypothesis for its formation.


BACKGROUND
Epidural venous varices have been described previously in the literature. To the authors' knowledge, no cases of intradural venous varix presenting as an intradural mass have been reported previously.


METHODS
An elongated, serpentine intradural mass was discovered on routine lumbar MRI performed for investigation of the patient's radiculopathy. The patient underwent laminectomy and intradural exploration.


RESULTS
On surgical exploration, a serpentine, massively dilated vein was identified, which distorted the normal nerve roots.


CONCLUSIONS
A venous varix should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an intradural lesion in the lumbar spine in the appropriate clinical setting.
Moonis
Gul
G
Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA. moonis@rad.upenn.edu
Hurst
Robert W
RW
Simon
Scott L
SL
Zager
Eric L
EL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000473:pathology; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*