title: Recurrent giant invasive thoracolumbar schwannoma.
abstract: Giant invasive spinal schwannoma is a new term proposed by Sridhar in 2001 for a particularly aggressive type of benign spinal schwannoma. Only a few cases have been published, the majority of these located in the lumbosacral spine, two in the thoracic and only one in the cervical spine. A rare case of such a tumor is presented. The tumor predominantly occupied level L1 and partially levels T12 and L2, and recurred 13 years after the first seemingly radical excision of a benign melanotic schwannoma. The highly vascularized tumor was radically excised using the dorsal approach, and a Sokon transpeduncular fixation was performed. Carter's lateral thoraco-abdominal access allowed the retroperitoneal and intravertebral expansions of the tumor to be removed and L1 corpectomy to be accomplished. Ventral vertebral stabilization was achieved with a titanium cage. After the operation, the pain in the patient's left leg subsided. Three years after the management, he is still pain-free, able to walk freely and to resume his usual daily activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Maribor Teaching Hospital, Maribor, Slovenia. gorazd.bunc@siol.net
authors.forename: Gorazd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bunc
authors.forename: Slavko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kramberger
authors.forename: Srecko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kovacic
authors.forename: Tomaz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seruga
authors.forename: Matjaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vorsic
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed