Isolated, primary spinal epidural Hodgkin's disease in a child

Abstract

A 12-year-old boy presented with backache and bilateral progressive lower extremity weakness. Radiological examination revealed a mass on the epidural space at level L(1)-L(3). The patient had laminectomy and posterior decompression. Histopathology examination revealed lymphocyte dominant type Hodgkin's disease. All other investigations (including computed tomography of the chest and abdomen, bone scan, gallium scan, bone marrow aspiration, and cerebrospinal fluid study) were negative for occult disease. The patient received combined therapy with irradiation and chemotherapy after surgery. At 7 years after the diagnosis, he had remained disease free and with normal functional status. This patient represents a rare case of primary epidural Hodgkin's disease in the lumbar region, rare also for onset in childhood.