Hypertrophic pachymeningitis dorsalis

A young man developed a paraplegia of relatively sudden onset. A myelogram revealed an obstruction at the T8 level. Laminectomy at T7-9 disclosed a remarkably thick dura mater compressing the spinal cord. Microscopic examination of the dura mater was suggestive of syphilitic granulation tissue. Serum and CSF samples examined for evidence of syphilis were strongly reactive.