Spinal haemangioma with cauda equina syndrome in pregnancy

The true incidence of haemangiomas, which are the most common benign tumours in the spine, is not known as they are most often asymptomatic and are detected at autopsy. It can become symptomatic due to the haemodynamic and hormonal changes in pregnancy which cause sudden expansion of the lesion. In this paper, we present a case of a woman in her 30s, primigravida at 31 weeks' gestation with acute urinary retention and neurological features suggestive of cauda equina syndrome. Imaging confirmed the diagnosis of vertebral haemangioma involving T12 vertebra encroaching the posterior dural space and abutting the cord. She underwent surgical excision of the haemangioma with complete recovery of neurological symptoms on postoperative follow-up.