Lateral Myelotomy for Resection of a Ruptured Intramedullary Cervico-Thoracic Cavernous Malformation

Intramedullary spinal cord cavernous malformations represent 5% to 12% of spinal vascular disease. Most patients present with acute or progressive neurological symptoms, including motor weakness or sensory loss. Surgical resection is the only definitive management and is recommended for symptomatic lesions that are surgically accessible.

A 35-yr-old woman presented with a sudden onset of pain and temperature sensation loss in the left lower extremity. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine showed a hemorrhage located ventral and slightly lateral to the right of the midline of the spinal cord from C7 through T3. Ultimately, a right lateral myelotomy between the ventral and dorsal roots was performed, and the cavernous malformation was removed. Postoperative imaging confirmed gross total resection of the cavernous malformation.

In this article, we report a highly unusual case of a multisegment, ruptured intramedullary cavernous malformation that was ultimately resected through a lateral myelotomy approach. This case demonstrates that a lateral approach to the spinal cord substance can be utilized for ruptured cavernous malformation, especially if there is hemorrhage at the surface of the spinal cord. This can be used as an entry into the anterolateral compartment of the spinal cord, which would otherwise be regarded as a highly morbid approach due to the sensory deficits induced. We believe this entry point to the spinal cord is feasible in highly select cases such as this.