Presentation
Weakness of the left upper limb.
Patient Data
Well-circumscribed intradural extramedullary dumbbell-shaped soft tissue mass measuring 27 x 25 x 12 mm, extending through a widened left C4-C5 exit foramen, along with the C5 nerve root. It elicits an isosignal to the spinal cord on T1, a moderate high signal on T2 and STIR with intense and heterogeneous enhancement on postcontrast sequences. The spinal cord is compressed and displaced to the right with no sign of myelopathy.
Case Discussion
MRI features suggestive of spinal schwannoma.
The patient went to have complete surgical resection of the tumor with a histopathological exam that confirm the diagnosis of Schwannoma.
On imaging neurofibromas and schwannomas can look identical, however, schwannomas are frequently associated with hemorrhage, intrinsic vascular changes, cyst formation and fatty degeneration. These findings are rare in neurofibromas.
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.