title: Intramuscular myxoma of the cervical paraspinal muscle.
abstract: Myxoma is a neoplasm of mesenchymal origin composed of undifferentiated stellate cells in a myxoid stroma. This tumor can develop in a variety of locations. Myxomas that arise from skeletal muscles are called intramuscular myxomas. They usually occur in large skeletal muscles. Only ten cases of these benign tumors involving the neck muscles were reported in literature. Of them, only three were located at the paraspinal muscles. A 64-year-old woman presented with occipital and neck pain over 5 years noted an expansive painful lesion located at posterior cervical region with progressive volume increase in the last 12 months. Image exams revealed a large mass located in the left posterior region of the neck in contact with the C2, C3 and C4 laminae with no invasion of the vertebrae. Tumor total removal was performed through normal muscle margins and the vertebral periosteum was scraped. The tumor was encapsulated, lobulated with a gray-white appearance. The histological examination yielded the diagnosis of intramuscular myxoma. Follow-up at 1 year showed complete resolution of preoperative symptoms and no evidence of local recurrence. In conclusion, although rare, intramuscular myxoma should be included in differential diagnosis of cervical paraspinal tumors. We reported the fourth case of intramuscular myxoma in the paraspinal musculature of the neck. Despite its benign characteristics, local recurrence was reported after subtotal resection. Tumor total removal should be the goal of surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil. asdrubal@doctor.com
authors.forename: Asdrubal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falavigna
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Righesso
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Volquind
authors.forename: Alisson Roberto
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Teles
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009232:Myxoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome