title: Paraganglioma of the filum terminale: case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paragangliomas affecting the filum terminale are extremely rare, benign tumors. The literature yielded thirty-two cases of paraganglioma in this site.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 49 year-old-man, whose presenting symptoms were low back pain and left leg weakness, was diagnosed as having a paraganglioma of the filum terminale. The clinical, histological and radiological characteristics of this case, that brings the total number of cases described to 33, are discussed in the light of published data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This extremely rare pathology can usually be successfully treated by total surgical resection, which represents the gold standard. In the event of incomplete removal, assiduous long-term follow-up is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy. link55@libero.it
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Landi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tarantino
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marotta
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rocco
authors.forename: Manila
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvati
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delfini
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor