Primary amyloidoma of the axis and acute spinal cord compression: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Localized primary amyloidosis is a disease characterized by a single tumor and localized amyloid deposit (amyloidoma) with no evidence of generalized amyloidosis. The occurrence of an amyloidoma in the spine is rare and only three cases affecting the axis have been previously reported. We describe the case of a 79-year-old woman presenting with a mass involving the odontoid process, responsible for an acute tetraparesia. Diagnosis of local primary amyloidosis was made after surgical excision.


RESULTS
Despite the critical presentation, outcome was excellent after total excision of the mass. This case can be classified as a primary localized amyloidoma. The patient did not exhibit any infection, tumor or inflammatory disease, and continued investigations failed to demonstrate other amyloid deposit after one-year follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Amyloidoma must be discussed in presence of a tumor-like mass of the odontoid process and may be responsible, as in our case, for spinal cord compression.
Mulleman
Denis
D
Department of Rheumatology, Lille Teaching Hospital, Hôpital Roger Salengro, France. d.mulleman@chu-tours.fr
Flipo
René-Marc
RM
Assaker
Richard
R
Maurage
Claude-Alain
CA
Chastanet
Patrick
P
Ducoulombier
Vincent
V
Deprez
Xavier
X
Duquesnoy
Bernard
B
D000368:Aged; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009809:Odontoid Process; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome