Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2025
09:53
Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery
Published on: July 5, 2021
3.7K
Intramedullary schwannoma - A case report
Fawwaz Bin Shahab1, Saad Akhtar Khan1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Liaquat National Institute of Postgraduate Studies, Karachi, Pakistan.
Surgical Neurology International
|November 30, 2022
Summary
Intramedullary (IM) schwannomas are rare spinal tumors. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges and emphasizes considering IM schwannoma in patients with spinal lesions.
Area of Science:
- Neuropathology
- Neurosurgery
- Spinal Oncology
Background:
- Schwannomas are typically benign, progressive tumors, most commonly intradural extramedullary.
- Intramedullary (IM) schwannomas are exceptionally rare spinal neoplasms.
Observation:
- A 52-year-old male presented with gait instability and bilateral lower limb numbness, indicating myelopathy.
- Dorsal spine MRI revealed an intradural IM lesion at D11, with ependymoma as a differential diagnosis.
Findings:
- Histopathology confirmed the lesion as a schwannoma following near-total resection.
- The case underscores the rarity of IM schwannoma.
Implications:
- Preoperative diagnosis of IM spinal lesions is challenging.
- Maintain a high index of suspicion for IM schwannoma in patients with somatic pain and MRI-identified IM lesions.
