Resection of a dumbbell-shaped thoracic neurinoma by hemilaminectomy: a case report

Neurinomas originating from intercostal nerve roots can grow both inside and outside of the spinal canal, forming dumbbell-shaped tumors. Such a neurinoma was discovered at the Th3 and Th4 levels in a 73-year-old woman during evaluation for breast cancer surgery. Magnetic resonance images (MRI) showed spinal cord compression by the tumor despite lack of neurologic symptoms. The tumor was resected successfully via hemilaminectomy with costotransversectomy. Postoperative course was uneventful, and no stabilization was needed after operation. Back pain was the only postoperative complication. Analgesics were administered for 1 month, and the pain resolved over 3 months. No recurrent neurinoma was found in follow-up images at 8 months. We consider hemilaminectomy safe and effective for complete resection of a dumbbell-shaped thoracic neurinoma.