Spinal intradural extramedullary cavernoma: A case report

Cavernomas are rare vascular lesions that can occur anywhere along the neuraxis. However, they are most commonly found in the cerebral hemispheres. Spinal cavernomas are more uncommon and intradural extramedullary cavernomas are the most uncommon as they constitute only 3 % of spinal cavernomas.

A 36-year-old female presented to our neurosurgical clinic with a history of back pain radiating to the left side of the chest with left lower extremity paresthesia and ataxia without urinary disturbance. Neurological exam showed left-sided hypoesthesia below the T9 dermatome in addition to increased patellar and Achilles reflexes on the left side. MRI showed a homogeneous intradural extramedullary mass which was hyperintense on T1 and hypointense on T2 and it was surgically resected. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of intradural extramedullary cavernoma.

Intradural extramedullary cavernomas are extremely rare lesions that arise within the area located between the inner surface of the dura and the pial surface of the spinal cord. Up until 2022 only 40 cases of intradural extramedullary cavernomas were reported in the literature. MRI is the preferred imaging modality and pathology is the golden standard for diagnosis. Surgical resection showed very promising results and it is considered the golden standard for treating this condition. However, surgery should be performed urgently to give an optimal outcome.

Clinicians should consider this condition in their differential diagnoses when faced with progressive spinal root compression symptoms, sudden onset myelopathy, or progressive subarachnoid hemorrhage.