title: Giant schwannoma of the cauda equina with dural ectasia: a case report.
abstract: We describe a rare case of giant cauda equina tumor in the upper lumbar spine with dural ectasia in the lumbosacral region. This patient had a long history of acromegaly due to pituitary adenoma, for which bromocriptine was administered. The cauda equina tumor was surgically resected en bloc and proved to be a benign schwannoma. Postoperatively, with the exception of the left L5 dermatome, sensory disturbance decreased markedly and motor function slowly improved. Although resection of a giant schwannoma of the cauda equina often sacrifices other cauda equina spinal nerves involved by the tumor, neurological deterioration was not observed in the case presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NTT Kanto Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimode
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seichi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002420:Cauda Equina; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography