[Capillary hemangioma of the spinal cord. A new case]

A 49-year-old man presented with a 8-month history of gait and sphincter disturbances. Examination revealed a spastic paraplegia predominant on the left limb, associated with decreased tactile sensitivity below T10. MRI showed a right posterolateral intramedullary lesion with an isosignal on T1-weighted images and a mild hypersignal on T2-weighted images, with an intense contrast enhancement; the spinal cord presented with an hypersignal on T2-weighted images. At operation, a vascular tumor presented at the spinal cord surface, was well demarcated from the parenchyma and was easily removed. Microscopic examination showed a capillary hemangioma. Three months later the patient exhibited a motor improvement with a right spasticity, deficits in proprioception, without sphincter abnormalities. A new MRI showed the disappearance of the hemangioma and of the preoperative spinal cord hypersignal. Capillary hemangiomas are unusual on nerves or roots. Cases found in the spinal cord are extremely rare: to our knowledge, 5 cases have been reported. On MRI, they are easily distinguished from cavernous hemangiomas, but microscopic examination is necessary to distinguish them from hemangioreticulomas. The postoperative prognosis is generally good. However, a report of a multiple location case, on roots and spinal cord, suggests the need for long follow-up.