ABSTRACT
Gangliocytic paraganglioma (GP) is considered a rare neuroendocrine tumor (NET) most often located in the distal half of the duodenum. Insufficient reports describe tumors of this histological type located in the distal parts of the spinal canal, the conus medullaris and cauda equina. To date, nine cases of GP of the cauda equina and one case of GP of conus medullaris have been described. After analyzing all available treatment reports of GP, a study described it as a tumor with an extremely good prognosis in cases of total tumor removal. Here, we present a case of a female patient with a GP at the level of the L4 vertebra treated at Burdenko Neurosurgical Center using a minimally invasive approach through a tubular retractor. The tumor was removed en bloc through an intralaminar opening, and the patient was discharged two days after surgery with total regression of symptoms.
ABSTRACT
Spinal subdural abscesses (SSAs) are rare pathologies presenting as encapsulated pus located intradurally and extramedullary. Although there is no uniform opinion on the cause of this pathology, approximately 50% of cases are attributed to Staphylococcus aureus infection. Here, we present a rare case of a female patient who presented to N.N. Burdenko Neurosurgical Center for treatment of an extradural tumor in the lower lumbar spine. She complained of acute lower back pain, lower limb muscle spasms, progressive lower limb weakness, numbness in toes, and increased frequency of defecation (five to six times per day). Intraoperatively, we discovered that the epidural space was clear and a subdural abscess was located and removed. The patient was started on antibiotics and recovered 29 days later. This case report illustrates an atypical SSA mimicking an extramedullary tumor on MRI.
