[Adolescent radiculopathy associated with extradural intraspinal tumor]

Expansive intra-spinal processes usually have an insidious course that makes their early diagnosis difficult. Intra-spinal tumors are classified according to their location in the spinal canal: extradural and intradural, and these are classified as extramedullary and intramedullary. At the beginning, they can cause non-specific pain conditions and, sometimes, root-type pain. The patient may have symptoms such as: loss of strength, loss of balance, loss of sensation, sphincter disorders. Intra-spinal neoplasms, when diagnosed, have an indication for surgical treatment.

The clinical case of a 14-year-old male adolescent is described, pain in the lumbar region for four years, of insidious onset, intermittent, progressive, exacerbated six months ago, with radiation to the lower extremities, which is accompanied by progressive paresthesia and paresis predominantly in the lower right limb.

Bilateral L4 and L5 laminotomy is performed, exploration and resection of the tumor and release of nerve roots. Tumor with characteristics similar to adipose tissue is obtained, where a wide vascular network is observed inside, with an approximate size of 14 × 10 × 4 mm, ovoid in shape, flattened with a smooth and shiny surface.

Spinal tumors are relatively rare tumors, however, of these tumors, the extradural intraspinal location accounts for half of the cases. In our patient, the diagnosis of lipoma of the filum terminale was integrated, which corresponds to less than 1% of all tumors of the spine.