Intramedullary plasma cell granuloma in the cervicothoracic spine. Case report.

Abstract

Intraspinal plasma cell granuloma, which is a nonneoplastic entity, is extremely rare. To date, only four cases have been documented in the spinal meninges. The authors report the first case of a C7-T1 intramedullary plasma cell granuloma. After excision of the lesion, the patient's gait and bladder dysfunction improved. This plasma cell granuloma initially showed no delineated mass on T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, low signal intensity on T2-weighted images, and was well enhanced after administration of gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid. The latter MR imaging modality should help to detect this tumorous lesion. Histologically, the granuloma needs to be distinguished from lymphoplasmacyte-rich meningioma and plasmacytoma.

• Authors: Toshimi Aizawa, Tetsuro Sato, Yasuhisa Tanaka, Koshi Kishimoto, Mika Watanabe, Shoichi Kokubun
• Journal: Journal of neurosurgery (J Neurosurg) Vol. 97 Issue 2 Suppl Pg. 235-8 (Sep 2002) ISSN: 0022-3085 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12296686 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Cervical Vertebrae (pathology, surgery)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Granuloma, Plasma Cell (diagnosis, pathology, surgery)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neurologic Examination
• Postoperative Complications (diagnosis)
• Spinal Cord (pathology, surgery)
• Spinal Cord Diseases (diagnosis, pathology, surgery)
• Thoracic Vertebrae (pathology, surgery)