title: Imaging features and treatment of an intradural lumbar cystic schwannoma.
abstract: Spinal schwannomas are frequently observed among patients treated in a reference neurosurgery center. Cystic spinal schwannomas, however, are very scantly found. Due to its indolent behavior and benign course, the diagnosis of schwannomas may pose a challenge to the care giver, and the imaging findings can be misleading. In this article, we illustrate an example of a pauci-symptomatic 55 year-old male patient whose complaint was solely a non specific lumbar pain. Investigation revealed a large cystic lesion comprising the lower lumbar intradural space. He was then treated with microneurosurgical technique involving complete removal of the tumor and reconstruction of the dura mater. Histological and immunohistochemical diagnosis were consistent with cystic schwannoma. The patient presented with complete recovery of his symptom. In this article we aim to emphasize the clinical presentation and treatment of lumbar spine schwannomas, and to illustrate the imaging findings within this uncommon case.
authors.affiliation: Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil. guiborges@fcm.unicamp.br
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonilha
authors.forename: Marcílio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Proa
authors.forename: Yvens Barbosa
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramina
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zanardi
authors.forename: Jose Ribeiro
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Menezes
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery