Hemangiopericytoma of the cervicothoracic spine: a case report and literature review

Abstract

A case of hemangiopericytoma in the cervicothoracic spine is reported. A 43-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with pain in the scapular region radiating to the left upper extremity, numbness, and weakness of the legs. Magnetic resonance image revealed an intraspinal, extradural mass at the level of the C6-T2 vertebral bodies. The lesion also involved the dorsal paraspinal area with a giant mass. A total resection of the tumor was performed and histopathological findings revealed a malignant hemangiopericytoma. The patient showed rapid neurological function improvement after surgery. It is well-recognized that hemangiopericytoma is an aggressive tumor with a high risk of recurrence and propensity to metastasize. The tumor is rarely found in the central nervous system, and only a few reports could be found in the literature. We present a case of cericothoracic spinal hemangiopericytoma with an intensive review of the literature.