[Spinal melanotic schwannoma: report of a case]

A case of spinal dumbbell shaped melanotic schwannoma was reported. A 58-year-old housewife had a 3-months history of progressive gait disturbance. She also complained of mild backache and numbness in both legs. Her family history was not remarkable. When examined on admission, October 10, 1982, mild weakness of both legs with spasticity and sensory impairment below the level of T10 dermatome without sacral sparing were evident. Her deep tendon reflexes were hyperactive on both sides and plantar responses were extensor bilaterally. Sphincteric disturbance was not significant. The function of her cranial nerves was intact. She had neither cutaneous lesions, abdominal mass nor organomegaly. Thoracic plain X-rays revealed erosion of the right side vertebral body and pedicle of the 10th thoracic vertebra. Myelography disclosed a complete block at the same level by an epidural mass. On CT-myelogram, soft tissue density mass compressing the thoracic cord was apparent in the right epidural space of the spinal canal which extended to the paravertebral region through the right intervertebral foramen. Partial destruction of the body and the right side pedicle was easily recognized. Laminectomy from T9 to T11 exposed a large extradural mass which was encapsulated, elastic soft and pigmented in nature. The tumor was dumbbell shaped and extended to the right paravertebral region through the intervertebral foramen. Costotransversectomy was performed to excise the mass entirely. Following the total removal of the tumor, internal fixation was carried out by means of Harrington instrumentation with methylmethacrylate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)