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Case Reports
. 2017 Oct 18;13(1):284-288.
doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2017.05.002. eCollection 2018 Feb.

Spinal cord astrocytoma: a unique presentation of abdominal pain

Kasey Jackson  1 , Sameer Lapsia  1 , Michael Strunc  1 , Gary Tye  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Spinal cord astrocytoma: a unique presentation of abdominal pain

Kasey Jackson et al. Radiol Case Rep. .

Abstract

A previously healthy male presented at age 5 years with recurrent abdominal pain that occurred diffusely. The pain was severe enough to cause episodic screaming, especially at night with spontaneous resolution. The patient was initially treated for constipation but when motor symptoms began to develop, imaging revealed the cause of his pain to be a spinal cord mass. The tumor was treated with steroids, and biopsy confirmed a grade II spinal cord astrocytoma. We describe this unusual presentation of a pediatric spinal cord astrocytoma and review the literature.

Keywords: Abdominal pain; Astrocytoma; Pediatric.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Initial axial T1 MRI showing tumor and enlarged spinal cord (yellow circle).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
T1 sagittal MRI at presentation of neurologic symptoms. Tumor is within yellow circle. Syrinx is in between yellow arrows.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Postoperative axial T1 MRI with contrast demonstrating tumor removal.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Postoperative T1 sagittal MRI. Syrinx (between arrows) is reduced. Minimal remaining tumor is within yellow circle.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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