• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.265-267
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• 2008

Angiolipomas in the lumbar spinal region are extremely rare. The present report describes the identification of such a tumor and its removal, and discusses the tumor characteristics and prognosis. A 74-year-old woman was presented with a 5-month history of lower back pain. Severe radiculopathy was experienced in the left leg for 5 days prior to the presentation, and there were no neurological deficits. Magnetic resonance (MR) images showed an approximately 3.5 cm heterogeneously enhanced and elongated mass at the left L5-S1 level. A portion of the mass appeared with high signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images, with low signal intensity on T1-weighted images, and with high signal intensity on T1 fat suppression enhancement images. Resection of the tumor was approached via an L5 and S1 laminectomy. A fibrous sticky yellowish hypervascular tumor was identified. Histological study revealed the tumor as an angiolipoma. Symptoms were relieved after tumor excision, and there were no neurological sequelae. Although extremely rare, lumbar epidural angiolipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lumbar spinal epidural lesions. The prognosis after surgical management of this lesion is favorable.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 1999

Ewing's sarcoma is an uncommon malignant neoplasm of the long bone and it has a poor prognosis due to its early metastasis and aggressive local spread. It is mostly found before the age of 30 and it is rare in extraskeletal sites. Extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma has been reported to occur in various sites including the larynx, scalp, nasal fossa, neck, chest wall, lung, pelvis, perineum, arm, finger, leg and toe, but it is extremely rare as a primary epidural tumor of the spine. We experienced a case of extraosseous epidural Ewing's sarcoma arising in the lumbar spinal canal at L3-L5 level in a 9-year-old boy. Following total laminectomy from L3 to L5 with a lumbar vertebrae and mass excision, he received chemotherapy with complete remission.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.143-147
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• 2010

We report here on an uncommon case of metastatic choriocarcinoma to the lung, brain and lumbar spine. A 33-year-old woman was admitted to the pulmonary department with headache, dyspnea and hemoptysis. There was a history of cesarean section due to intrauterine fetal death at 37-weeks gestation and this occurred 2 weeks before admission to the pulmonary department. The radiological studies revealed a nodular lung mass with hypervascularity in the left upper lobe and also a brain parenchymal lesion in the parietal lobe with marginal bleeding and surrounding edema. She underwent embolization for the lung lesion, which was suspected to be an arteriovenous malformation according to the pulmonary arteriogram. Approximately 10 days after discharge from the pulmonary department, she was readmitted due to back pain and progressive paraparesis. The neuroradiological studies revealed a hypervascular tumor occupying the entire L3 vertebral body and pedicle, and the tumor extended to the epidural area. She underwent embolization of the hypervascular lesion of the lumbar spine, and after which injection of polymethylmethacrylate in the L3 vertebral body, total laminectomy of L3, subtotal removal of the epidural mass and screw fixation of L2 and L4 were performed. The result of biopsy was a choriocarcinoma.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 1989

Chloroma is a localized myeloblastic tumor which may develop during the course of myelogenous leukemia or as a presenting sign of the disease. A 47-year-old female diagnosed as chronic myelogenous leukemia in her hematologic remission period complained of left lower leg pain. The lumbar-spine series showed multiple osteolytic changes in the left lateral border of the lumbar spine. An inhomogenous soft tissue mass involving left lateral aspects of lumbar vertebrae was identified by CT-scanning. At the first pain attack, lumbar epidural steroid and local anesthetic injection could abolish her pain and the patient could go a few days without pain. The following radiation therapy could also improve the symptom and retain the pain free interval. One month later, a second pain attack occurred and lumbar and caudal epidural steroid and local anesthetic injections could result only in an incidental relief of pain. Radiation and chemotherapy were started but failed to relieve pain. A neurolytic block was considered but the patient's general condition was aggravated and even verbal communication with her became impossible.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.241-244
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• 2011

Sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection affecting various organs, including the central nervous system, especially the lumbar epidural space. This report describes the identification of disease and different strategies of treatments with preoperative information. A 42-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of urinary incontinence and impotence. He had a history of ingesting raw frogs 40 years ago. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed an intramedullary nodular mass at conus medullaris and severe inflammation in the cauda equina. A 51-year-old woman was admitted with acute pain in the left inguinal area. We observed a lesion which seemed to be a tumor of the lumbar epidural space on MR imaging. She also had a history of ingesting inadequately cooked snakes 10 years ago. In the first patient, mass removal was attempted through laminectomy and parasite infection was identified during intra-operative frozen biopsy. Total removal could not be performed because of severe arachnoiditis and adhesion. We therefore decided to terminate the operation and final histology confirmed dead sparganum infection. We also concluded further surgical trial for total removal of the dead worm and inflammatory grannulation totally. However, after seeing another physician at different hospital, he was operated again which resulted in worsening of pain and neurological deficit. In the second patient, we totally removed dorsal epidural mass. Final histology and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed living sparganum infection and her pain disappeared. Although the treatment of choice is surgical resection of living sparganum with inflammation, the attempt to remove dead worm and adhesive granulation tissue may cause unwanted complications to the patients. Therefore, the result of preoperative ELISA, as well as the information from image and history, must be considered as important factors to decide whether a surgery is necessary or not.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.296-299
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• 2006

A 35-year-old woman, previously treated for systemic metastases from retroperitoneal yolk sac tumor, presented with progressive painful paraparesis. Preoperative images showed severe cord compression by the metastatic infiltration of the lumbar vertebrae and epidural mass as well as a huge retroperitoneal mass. While performing unremarkable surgery in prone position, the patient abruptly fell into hypoxic insults and circulatory arrest. Intraoperative pulmonary tumor embolism was deemed a cause of death. When planning operative procedure for this dangerous malignancy, scrupulous manipulation is mandated and the possibility of fatal pulmonary tumor embolism should also be addressed and fully discussed preoperatively.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.85-88
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• 1989

We experienced 3 cases of continuous caudal block. The first case had suffered from severe pain of the external genitalis after urethral injury from a car accident and this was controlled by continuous caudal block. The other 2 cases were a metastaric malignant tumor of the lumbar vertebra from cancer of the cervix and histiocytoma of the breast, and both had suffered from intractable pain of the lower extremity. But lumbar epidural block was impossible because of radiation fibrosis and previous operation scar of the spine. So a continuous caudal block was performed and the pain was controlled effectively. The longest duration was 50 days and there were no problems related catheter indwelling. Pain in the area of the lumbar and sacral nerve distribution can be controlled by continuous caudal block. Here in we reported 3 cases and reviewed the literature.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.75-80
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• 2003

Lumbar spinal stenosis results from the progressive combined narrowing of the central spinal canal, the neurorecesses, and the neuroforaminal canals. In the absence of prior surgery, tumor, or infection, the spinal canal may become narrowed by bulging or protrusion of the intervertebral disc annulus, herniation of the nucleus pulposis posteriorly, thickening of the posterior longitudinal ligament, hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum, epidural fat deposition, spondylosis of the intervertebral disc margins, or a combination of two or more of the above factors. Patients with spinal stenosis become symptomatic when pain, motor weakness, paresthesia, or other neurologic compromise causes distress. In one case, we administrated oriental medical treatment with acupuncture treatment and herb-medicine. Oriental medical treatment showed desirable effect on lumbar spinal stenosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.54-57
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• 2006

Central nervous system[CNS] involvement of acute lymphoblastic leukemia may occur. However, CNS involvement as a first manifestation of leukemia is very rare. An 8-year-old girl complained of a backache after playing in the water. Neurological examination detected progressing paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging[MRI] of the thoracolumbar spine showed a well-circumscribed homogeneous posterior extradural mass lesion extending from T7 to T9. MRI of the brain showed diffused fatty marrow replacement of the calvarium and the skull base. We report a patient with epidural Burkitt's lymphoma of the thoracic and lumbar vertebra causing compression of the spinal cord after pathologic evaluation. The tumor consisted mainly of lymphoblastic cells, which were identical to those originally seen in the bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. After decompressive laminectomy she began consolidation chemotherapy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.262-265
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• 1997

We experienced a case of osteoid osteoma in thoracic vertebra accompanied with herniated nucleus pulposus during the management of back pain. A 32 year old male patient with herniated nucleus pulposus complained of back pain and radiation to right leg. Lumbar epidural block with 1% mepivacaine 5 ml was performed for pain control and it relieved the radiating pain. However patient continued to experience severe exacerated back pain at night which responded to aspirin. Therefore we performed further examination for existence of disease of the spine and diagnosed osteoid osteoma in the right pedicle of T12 vertebra. In conclusion, we recommend physicians when evaluating patients with back pain to be congnizant of possible existence of neoplastic disease of the spine and incorporate it in differential diagnosis.