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Giant lumbar schwannoma

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Painless progessive right foot drop with CT scan apparently showing no disc prolapse.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Male
mri

Large, enhancing extra-axial mass in the upper lumbar spinal canal deviating the conus to the left and expanding the spinal canal by way of posterior vertebral body "scalloping".  

mri

The post-op scan shows extensive laminectomy and pseudo-meningocele.

Case Discussion

Histology revealed a schwannoma. What is remarkable in this case is the relatively minor clinical signs associated with this huge mass, i.e. foot drop and no pain. This is presumably due to the slow growth of the tumor causing pressure erosion on the spinal canal. The contemporary preliminary CT (not available to me in this case) apparently did not show an obvious mass in the spinal canal.  Look at the T1 sagittal images and perhaps you could make the same mistake.

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