[Medullary compression due to vertebral angioma in pregnancy. A case treated by embolization]

A previously healthy 24 year old woman presented a progressive paraplegia during the third trimester of her second pregnancy. Partial improvement occurred after caesarian. The neuroradiological study revealed spinal cord compression by an extensive corporeo-pedicular angioma of the T2 vertebrae. Almost total recovery occurred after selective embolization. The occurrence of neurological complications of vertebral angiomas during pregnancy is rarely reported in the literature. Mechanisms of the spinal cord compression and their relations with the pregnancy are discussed and difficulties for diagnosis and treatment are emphasized. When technically possible, the embolization appears to be the most adapted treatment, especially for these extensive types of vertebral angioma.