Extradural cervical spinal meningioma without myelopathy

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Oncology
• Spinal Surgery

Background:

• Extradural spinal meningiomas represent a rare subset, comprising only 2.5-3.5% of all spinal meningiomas.
• These tumors can present with symptoms such as chronic neck pain and neurological deficits.

Observation:

• A case of a 45-year-old female with chronic neck pain and bilateral arm numbness is presented.
• Cervical magnetic resonance (MR) imaging identified a right-sided extradural extramedullary lesion spanning C5-C7.
• The patient underwent subtotal tumor excision via C4-C7 laminectomy, with removal of the intracanalicular portion and retention of extraforaminal components.

Findings:

• Histopathological analysis confirmed the lesion as a typical meningioma, characterized by meningothelial cells and psammomatous calcifications.
• Surgical management involved subtotal excision, addressing the intracanalicular tumor while leaving extraforaminal portions if necessary.

Implications:

• Early diagnosis and timely surgical management of extradural cervical spinal meningiomas are essential for achieving optimal patient outcomes.
• The described surgical approach, involving subtotal resection and consideration of residual extraforaminal components, offers a viable treatment strategy.