Intramedullary spindle cell hemangioendothelioma of the thoracic spinal cord--case report.

Abstract

A 28-year-old Malay man presented with progressive paraparesis over a period of 6 months. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine revealed a thoracic intramedullary spinal cord tumor at the T-7 level with homogeneous enhancement following intravenous gadolinium administration. Laminectomy and partial decompression of the tumor was performed. Histological examination of the tumor revealed features of spindle cell hemangioendothelioma. The patient was managed with limited field radiotherapy followed by systemic interferon therapy. Good neurological improvement was seen subsequently. The patient has survived 48 months with growth restraint at the primary site, although residual neurological deficit persists. Immunotherapy should be considered as a treatment modality for intramedullary hemangioendothelioma of the spinal cord after surgery and radiotherapy.

• Authors: Jafri Malin Abdullah, Samerendra Singh Mutum, Noor Azam Nasuha, Biswa Mohan Biswal, Abdul Rahman Mohd Ariff
• Journal: Neurologia medico-chirurgica (Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo)) Vol. 42 Issue 6 Pg. 259-63 (Jun 2002) ISSN: 0470-8105 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 12116532 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Immunologic Factors
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• Recombinant Proteins

Topics

• Adult
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Decompression, Surgical
• Hemangiosarcoma (complications, drug therapy, pathology, radiotherapy, surgery)
• Humans
• Immunologic Factors (therapeutic use)
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Laminectomy
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Paraparesis (etiology)
• Radiotherapy, High-Energy
• Recombinant Proteins
• Spinal Cord Compression (etiology)
• Spinal Cord Neoplasms (complications, drug therapy, pathology, radiotherapy, surgery)
• Thoracic Vertebrae