Rare Case of Dumbbell-Shaped Spinal Cavernous Hemangioma and Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Spinal epidural cavernous hemangiomas are rare vascular malformations. Exceptionally, they present with dumbbell-shaped morphology. When they happen, it's mandatory to include their pathology in the differential diagnosis because of their similarity to schwannomas.

Case description: We report the case of a 72-year-old woman with a dumbbell-shaped thoracic epidural cavernous hemangioma. A literature review of diagnostic features and current treatment options are also discussed.

Conclusions: Surgery is safe and effective in both improving patient condition and preventing acute hemorrhage that can worsen the outcome, causing neurologic and potentially irreversible deficits. The favorable result we obtained in our patient suggests that surgery should be evaluated as the first option, even in patients with large epidural cavernous hemangiomas.

Keywords: Epidural; Hemangioma; Magnetic resonance imaging; Spinal.