title: A rare case of cavernous lymphangioma in the epidural space of the cervicothoracic spine.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China. penguin120@163.com
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Guozhong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lanlan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Youzhi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jiping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shiguang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: 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