Multifocal Intradural Extramedullary Pilocytic Astrocytomas of the Spinal Cord: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is among the most common of the central nervous system gliomas in the pediatric population; however, it is uncommon in adults. PAs of the spinal cord in adults are even rarer, with only a few cases found in the literature. We report here the first case in the literature of multifocal intradural extramedullary spinal cord PAs in an adult.



Our patient is a 56-yr-old female who presented with loss of balance and an ataxic gait. Multiple extramedullary spinal cord tumors were identified intraoperatively, the lesions completely resected, and all diagnosed as PAs.



This case illustrates a unique instance of multifocal intradural extramedullary spinal cord PAs in an adult with no previous history of PA during childhood, no known familial syndromes, and no brain involvement.
Departments of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Azam
A
Basheer
Departments of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Richard
R
Rammo
Departments of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Steven
S
Kalkanis
Departments of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA.|Departments of Pathology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Michelle M
MM
Felicella
Departments of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Mokbel
M
Chedid
D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms
Spinal cord tumor; Pilocytic; Astrocytoma; Intradural; Extramedullary; Multifocal