Clinics in diagnostic imaging (76). Left extradural-intradural lumbar neurofibroma

A 62-year-old woman presented with weight loss, anoexia and back pain. She was found to have a palpable left abdominal mass. Radiographs, CT and MR imaging revealed a large left 3rd lumbar neurogenic tumour with both intra- and extradural components. A neurofibroma was excised and the diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically. The patient has no recurrence at six years follow-up. The pathological classifications, clinical and imaging features of neurogenic tumours are discussed. With the knowledge of characteristic imaging features, these tumours can be differentiated from other types of intradural-extramedullary tumours.