title: Pure spinal epidural cavernous hemangioma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pure epidural cavernous hemangiomas without bony involvement are rare, representing 4% of all spinal epidural tumors. Most of these are case reports and are easily misdiagnosed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Herein nine patients (male:female, 5:4, average age: 51 years) with symptomatic pure epidural spinal cavernous hemangioma between 2005 and 2011 were treated, and the clinical, radiological, and pathological records, treatment, and prognosis were discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients experienced a slowing progressive clinical course, except for one with intralesional hemorrhage. Clinical manifestations included back or radiating pain, sensorimotor deficits, and sphincters disturbance. Eight lesions were isointense on T1- and hyperintense on T2-weighted images with homogenously strongly enhancement and one was mixed signal with heterogeneous enhancement because of intratumoral hemorrhage. Hemilaminotomoy or laminotomy was performed and total resection was achieved. All patients experienced a gradual neurological improvement with no recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spinal epidural cavernous hemangioma is a benign vascular malformation that should be excluded in the diagnosis of epidural lesion. Total surgical resection is recommended and usually results in a good prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Weiying
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Siqing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Bowen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: You
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015174:Epidural Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D020936:Epilepsy, Benign Neonatal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome