title: Segmental Schwannomatosis of the Spine: Report of a Rare Case and Brief Review of Literature.
abstract: To report a case of segmental schwannomatosis involving the dorsal and lumbar spine and describe its excision as well as review of literature on schwannomatosis involving the spine.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Schwannomas are nerve sheath tumours which usually occur as solitary lesions. Presence of multiple schwannomas suggests a genetic predisposition to tumorogenesis and possible association with neurofibromatosis. However, in very rare cases multiple schwannomas exist without typical features of neurofibromatosis and constitute a clinically and genetically distinct rare syndrome termed schwannomatosis. A 31-year-old female presented with low back pain with left lower limb radiculopathy and sensory deficit over the L4-L5 dermatome. Auditory and ophthalmologic examinations were normal. MRI showed two discrete intradural masses at D12-L2 and L3-L5. MRI of the brain was negative for any vestibular schwannoma. The tumours were excised discretely through a single midline incision to improve the symptoms. HPE of both the tumours revealed them to be schwannomas. Karyotyping from lymphocyte DNA revealed no abnormality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the 3rd case of schwannomatosis involving the dorsal and lumbar spine, in which excision of the tumours led to resolution of symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, India.
authors.forename: Ranjit Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Baruah
authors.affiliation: Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, India.
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bora
authors.affiliation: Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, India.
authors.forename: Russel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haque
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D017253:Neurofibromatoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome