Cervical extradural meningioma: case report and literature review.
BACKGROUND
Extradural lesions are most commonly metastatic neoplasms. Extradural meningioma accounts for 2.7 to 10% of spinal neoplasms and most commonly is found in the thoracic spine.


METHODS
Case report.


RESULTS
A 45-year-old woman presented with posterior cervicothoracic pain for 8 months following a motor vehicle crash. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine revealed an enhancing epidural mass. Computerized tomography of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis revealed no systemic disease. Due to the lesion's unusual signal characteristics and location, an open surgical biopsy was completed, which revealed a psammomatous meningioma. Surgical decompression of the spinal cord and nerve roots was then performed. The resection was subtotal due to the extension of the tumor around the vertebral artery.


CONCLUSIONS
Meningiomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of contrast-enhancing lesions in the cervical spine.
Frank
Brian L
BL
Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
Harrop
James S
JS
Hanna
Amgad
A
Ratliff
John
J
D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D015174:Epidural Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
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