title: Spinal cord ganglioglioma presenting as acute paraparesis.
abstract: A 17-year-old male presented with acute onset paraparesis in the lower limbs. Urinary retention was present and the patient required catheterisation. Clinical examination confirmed severe bilateral lower limb weakness and a sensory level at T8. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a haemorrhagic intramedullary tumour extending from T8 to the conus. Microsurgical excision of the tumour was performed and the patient made a good functional recovery. The histology of the tumour demonstrated a ganglioglioma of the spinal cord. Acute paraparesis has not previously been reported with a spinal cord ganglioglioma. We discuss the clinical, diagnostic and pathological features of spinal cord gangliogliomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia. jeffsyg@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Graham Joseph
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Jeffs
authors.forename: Gabriel Yin Foo
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: George Tse-Hwai
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018303:Ganglioglioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D020335:Paraparesis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone