Papilledema and tumours of the cauda equina: a case report.
OBJECTIVE
Bilateral papilledema is a rare symptom of cauda equina tumours. The authors report a case of neurinoma of cauda equina, which had a bilateral papilledema among its initial symptoms.


METHODS
A 28 years old man showed the presence of a bilateral papilledema; a cerebral MRI did not show any endocranial pathology. After three months the patient started suffering, especially at night, of right-leg-sciatica. A lumbar MRI showed a neurinoma of the cauda equina. The patient was operated and after surgery the papilledema slowly shrank.


CONCLUSIONS
The tumours of cauda equina could cause endocranial hypertension and consequently a papilledema because of hyperproteinorachia. If there is a bilateral papilledema and the cerebral MRI does not show any endocranial pathology, there is the need for the examination of any spinal disorders.
Caruso
R
R
Rome Army Medical Center and Department of Neurological Sciences, Rome University Sapienza, Rome, Italy. ricccaru@alice.it
Marrocco
L
L
Wierzbiki
V
V
D000328:Adult; D002420:Cauda Equina; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D010211:Papilledema / Q000209:etiology*; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012585:Sciatica / Q000150:complications
D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins