Estrogen and progesterone receptor-negative T11 vertebral hemangioma presenting as a postpartum compression fracture: case report and management
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Updated: Oct 17, 2026
Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
T H Schwartz1, H Hibshoosh, C J Riedel
1Department of Neurological Surgery, The Neurological Institute of New York, New York Presbyterian Medical Center, 10032, USA.
Objective And Importance:
Pregnancy-related vertebral hemangioma compressive myelopathy is a rare occurrence that tends to arise in the upper thoracic and lower cervical spine, peaks during the third trimester, and remits after parturition. Whether corticosteroid receptors play a role in the pathogenesis of these lesions is unknown. Most of these lesions have been managed with posterior decompression.
Clinical Presentation:
A 29-year-old woman presented with acute-onset lower-extremity weakness and sensory loss immediately after parturition.
Intervention:
We used a retropleural approach for anterior decompression and fusion, followed by radiation therapy. Immunohistochemical analysis of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression was performed.
Conclusion:
We report an unusual case of lower thoracic postpartum vertebral hemangioma compressive myelopathy caused by a parturition-related compression fracture. Results of tests for corticosteroid receptors were negative, which implicated a hemodynamic rather than hormonal cause for disease progression.
