Lower thoracic schwannoma presenting as pseudotumor cerebri: a case report

Primary Spinal tumors presenting as increased intracranial pressure is a rare and intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal schwannoma with unique presentation of pseudotumour cerebri (PTC) is extremely rare. Here, we describe a case of 48 years old male patient who presented to us with six months^' history of headache and visual disturbances and was found to have bilateral papilledema. CT scan of brain was normal and CSF opening pressure on Lumbar puncture (LP) was 30 cm of H2O with raised protein level. His headache and visual symptoms settled down after LP (Lumbo-peritoneal) shunt was performed. Three days postoperatively, patient complained of hypoesthesia and weakness of left leg that became an established complain after 2 weeks. A Lumbosacral MRI was performed with concerns of any postoperative complications of LP Shunt, which revealed IDEM spinal tumour at D11-D12 level. Patient underwent second surgery for excision of tumor. We reviewed the relevant literatures and discuss the possible mechanism of such atypical presentation of spinal tumors.