[Vertebral hemangioma extending into the spinal canal: case report]

A 73-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital presenting slowly progressive hypoesthesia below the 5th thoracic dermatome and spastic paraparesis. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a mass lesion in the T3 vertebral body extending into the spinal canal. The spinal cord was compressed to the left side and right T3 and T4 nerve roots were encased in the mass lesion. One week after admission, T2-T4 laminectomy was performed to relieve the spinal cord compression. A highly vascularized tumor was observed in the epidural space at T3 and T4 levels. The tumor in the spinal canal was removed. The histopathological diagnosis was cavernous hemangioma. The patient's symptoms improved after the surgery. Asymptomatic vertebral hemangiomas are common, but its extraosseus extension causing neurologic symptoms (compressive vertebral hemangioma) is rare. The clinical symptoms, the radiological features, and the strategies for the treatment of compressive vertebral hemangiomas were discussed.