A rare case of cavernous lymphangioma in the epidural space of the cervicothoracic spine.
METHODS
A case report.


OBJECTIVE
To report and discuss a case of lymphangioma in the epidural space of the cervicothoracic spine.


BACKGROUND
Lymphangioma of the soft tissue is not uncommon, but lymphangiomas presenting as a spinal soft tissue tumor in the epidural space are extremely rare.


METHODS
A 61-year-old woman with pain and numbness in the left arm. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a half ring-shaped soft tissue mass in the left epidural space from the C6 to T1 level. The patient underwent osteoplastic laminectomy from C6 to T1. Histopathologic diagnosis of the resected tumor was cavernous lymphangioma.


RESULTS
One year after the operation, the patient reported mild pain in left upper limb, but there was no evidence of local recurrence on magnetic resonance imaging.


CONCLUSIONS
To the authors' knowledge, this is an extremely rare reported case of lymphangioma presenting as a spinal soft tissue tumor in the cervicothoracic epidural space. Further observation is recommended because of the possibility of local recurrence.
Chu
Ming
M
Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China. penguin120@163.com
Li
Guozhong
G
Wei
Lanlan
L
Lin
Youzhi
Y
Qi
Jiping
J
Wang
Chao
C
Zhao
Shiguang
S
D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008202:Lymphangioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology