Tumefactive demyelination of the spinal cord

Abstract

Demyelinating lesions of the brain have been frequently reported to mimic tumors, whereas very few cases of tumefactive demyelination of the spine have been reported. We report a patient with tumefactive demyelination of the spinal cord who was clinically, by MRI, and by frozen section diagnosed with tumor and had complete surgical resection. Hence patients with spinal cord lesions suspicious of tumor should be biopsied before complete surgical resection to rule out demyelination.