Intraoperative, imaging and pathological features in spinal cord vasculitis

The surgical intraoperative findings in spinal cord vasculitis have not been previously described. The imaging appearances can mimic intramedullary spinal cord tumours. We present a patient with spinal cord vasculitis and mixed intraoperative findings of spinal vascular lesion and intramedullary tumour. Based on the absence of a confirmatory intraoperative smear, vessel obliteration and tumour debulking was avoided, preventing a catastrophic surgical complication. The limited literature and management options are also reviewed.