title: Primary dumbbell-shaped lymphoma of the thoracic spine: a case report.
abstract: Primary spinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is extremely rare, and the occurrence of spinal dumbbell-shaped lymphoma is exceptional. We present a case of primary spinal dumbbell-shaped lymphoma to clarify the diagnosis and the management of these lesions. A 45-year-old man presented with sensory symptoms for 8 months. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine demonstrated a dumbbell-shaped lesion at the D4-D6 level with spinal cord compression and right foraminal extension at D4-D5 level. The patient underwent D4-D6 laminectomy, with a subtotal resection of the mass. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was diagnosed in the pathological examination. He underwent local spinal radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Follow-up evaluation at one year demonstrated no evidence of relapse. Although highly unusual, lymphoma should be included in the differential diagnosis for spinal dumbbell-shaped tumours. After surgery and adjuvant therapy a long-term clinical and neuroradiological followup is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Department, University of Pisa, Pisa 56100, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meola
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perrini
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Montemurro
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: di Russo
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tiezzi