Masson Hemangioma-An Unusual Cause of Thoracic Compressive Myelopathy

Masson hemangioma is a rare pathologic entity characterized by intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia. Although benign, this hemangioma grows to form an expansile compressing mass. This lesion is mostly seen in skin and subcutaneous tissue. Occurrence in the central nervous system is rare. Still rarer is a spinal location with only 5 case reports published to date in the literature.

A 32-year-old man presented with paraplegia secondary to extradural compression at the T4-5 level. Histopathologic features were consistent with intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia, also known as Masson hemangioma. Differential diagnosis, management, and review of literature are discussed in this report.

This rare pathology should be in the differential diagnosis when spinal cord compressive myelopathy is encountered.