Intradural extramedullary spinal tumor

Spinal meningioma and spinal schwannoma are the two most common intradural extramedullary spinal tumors, and both are associated with neurofibromatosis.

  1. Pain: The most common initial symptom, often localized or radicular, worsens at night or with Valsalva maneuvers.
  2. Radiculopathy: Due to nerve root compression, causing dermatomal pain, paresthesia, or weakness.
  3. Myelopathy: If the tumor compresses the spinal cord, leading to progressive weakness, spasticity, and sensory disturbances.
  1. Weakness: Initially subtle, progressing to significant paresis or paralysis.
  2. Hypoesthesia or Hyperesthesia: Segmental sensory loss or dysesthesia depending on the affected level.
  3. Gait Ataxia: Common in cervical and thoracic lesions due to corticospinal tract involvement.
  4. Bowel and Bladder Dysfunction: Especially with tumors in the thoracolumbar region causing sphincter disturbances.
  1. Meningiomas: More common in middle-aged women, slow-growing, causing gradual myelopathy.
  2. Schwannomas & Neurofibromas: Typically present with radicular pain, can be part of NF2 or sporadic.
  3. Ependymomas (Myxopapillary in the filum terminale): Associated with cauda equina syndrome and lower extremity weakness.
  1. Severe Motor Impairment: Progressive paraplegia or quadriplegia.
  2. Loss of Reflexes: Depending on the level of compression (hyperreflexia if upper motor neuron, hyporeflexia if lower motor neuron).
  3. Autonomic Dysfunction: Including erectile dysfunction and urinary retention.

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  • Last modified: 2025/02/10 11:19
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