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Lumbar Epidural Varix Mimicking Disc Herniation.
Adem Bursalı1, Goktug Akyoldas2, Ahmet Burak Guvenal1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Balıkesir State Hospital, Balıkesir, Turkey.
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
|July 23, 2016
Summary
A rare cause of leg pain, thrombosed lumbar epidural varices, can mimic lumbar disc herniation. Surgical decompression using thermocoagulation and excision effectively relieved symptoms in a young patient.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Lumbar radiculopathy commonly stems from lumbar disc herniation.
- Rare conditions can present with similar radicular symptoms, complicating diagnosis.
Observation:
- A 26-year-old male presented with back and right leg pain, initially suspected as L4-5 disc herniation.
- Preoperative imaging suggested disc herniation, but surgical exploration revealed a thrombosed epidural varix compressing the nerve root.
Findings:
- The thrombosed epidural varix was successfully treated with bipolar thermocoagulation and excision.
- Postoperative recovery was complete, with resolution of the patient's radicular symptoms.
Implications:
- Thrombosed lumbar epidural varices are a critical differential diagnosis for lumbar disc herniation.
- Microsurgical techniques, including thermocoagulation and excision, offer an effective treatment for this rare condition.
