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Asymptomatic spinal cord neoplasm detected during induction of spinal anesthesia

P A Armstrong1, L S Polley

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Obstetric Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
|August 25, 2009
PubMed

We report a case of an asymptomatic spinal cord neoplasm detected during the placement of a 25-gauge Whitacre spinal needle for spinal anesthesia before elective cesarean delivery. Subarachnoid blood was repeatedly aspirated during otherwise uncomplicated induction of spinal anesthesia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a spinal cord ependymoma in the lumbar spine. Asymptomatic spinal cord neoplasms and ependymomas are reviewed. Central nervous system pathology should be considered in the presence of persistent subarachnoid blood.

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