Intrathecal paraganglioma of the cauda equina

A 33-year-old obese woman with chronic pain in her lower back presented with weakness of her right quadriceps and diminution of her patellar reflex. Her myelogram revealed an intradural oval mass at level of the interspace between her 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebrae. Operation disclosed an encapsulated mass attached to her filum terminale. Histopathological examination showed a paraganglioma with typical dense core granules, confirmed by electron microscopic examination. We report our patient to call attention to intrathecal paragangliomas as a rare and treatable cause of the cauda equina syndrome.