title: Total Excision of a Giant Ventral Midline Cervical Spinal Intradural Schwannoma via Posterior Approach.
abstract: Schwannomas are the most common intradural extramedullary tumors of the spine. They usually occupy a posterolateral or lateral position in relation to the cord. The ventral midline is a very rare location for the origin of a spinal schwannoma. A giant one in such a location causes technical difficulties in excision. Here, we present a giant cervical spinal schwannoma, located ventral to the cord, in a 38-year-old lady who presented with features of myelopathy and bladder involvement. Magnetic resonance imaging was suggestive of an intradural extramedullary lesion extending from cervico-medullary junction to the third dorsal vertebral level with severe cord compression. The same was excised totally via a posterior approach after midline suboccipital craniectomy and C2-C6 laminoplasty. Postoperatively, she made a good recovery and was ambulant without support. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed complete excision of the tumor. Histopathology was suggestive of schwannoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Joe M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Anilkumar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peethambaran
keywords: Intradural-extramedullary spinal cord neoplasm; Laminoplasty; Myelopathy; Schwannoma