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Updated: Jun 30, 2026
Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery
Published on: July 5, 2021
Esthesioneuroblastoma metastatic to the thoracic intradural and extradural space
Paul M Arnold1, Ammar Habib, Kathy Newell
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MS 3021, Kansas City, KS 66160-0001, USA. parnold@kumc.edu
Background Context:
Ethesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare tumor of the olfactory epithelium that has been shown to metastasize mostly to the cervical lymphatics, with only infrequent spread to other locations. We report a rare case of ENB characterized by recurrence and distant metastasis to the T7-T8 intradural and extradural space.
Purpose:
To report a rare case of recurrent ENB metastatic to the thoracic intradural and extradural space.
Study Design/Setting:
Case report with a review of the literature.
Methods:
A 64-year-old man with recurrent ENB presented with chronic pain in the neck, shoulder, and back. His neurologic exam was normal. Computed tomography of the chest showed no pulmonary metastasis and a high-attenuation spinal canal mass at T8 was noted on magnetic resonance imaging. A laminectomy at T7-T8 was performed for resection of a large epidural mass. A tumor was seen penetrating through the dura, and a midline durotomy was performed for resection of a large intradural mass. Frozen section and permanent stains were consistent with metastatic ENB.
Results:
The postoperative period was uneventful, and included pain management and physical therapy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. The patient remains free of spinal recurrence 2 years after surgery.
Conclusions:
Metastasis of ENB to the spinal column is rare, and of those instances, 80% are localized to the cauda equina. Recurrent ENB metastatic to the thoracic intradural and extradural space is extremely rare, and was successfully treated with surgical resection.