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Case Reports
. 2019 Jul 25;14(10):1185-1187.
doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2019.06.011. eCollection 2019 Oct.

Paraganglioma of the cauda equina: MR and angiographic findings

Jose Carlos Méndez  1 , Rodrigo Carrasco  2 , Maria Antonia Prieto  3 , Eduardo Fandiño  1 , Javier Blázquez  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Paraganglioma of the cauda equina: MR and angiographic findings

Jose Carlos Méndez et al. Radiol Case Rep. .

Abstract

Paragangliomas of the cauda equina are rare benign highly vascular tumors and occur almost exclusively in the cauda equina and filum terminale of the spinal cord. We present a case spinal paraganglioma of the cauda equina in a 75-year-old male with an emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging and conventional angiography findings.

Keywords: Cauda equina; Conventional angiography; MR; Paraganglioma.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Paraganglioma of the cauda equina in a 75-year-old male. Sagittal T1-weighted (A), T2-weighted (B), gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted (C) and, perfusion-weighted (D) magnetic resonance images revealing a large homogeneously isointense intradural lesion extending from L3 to L4, with heterogeneous enhancement after gadolinium. T2W imaging revealing a hypointense rim at the superior and inferior aspect of the lesión and flow voids cranial to the mass indicative of venous congestion or high vascularity of the tumor (B). Perfusion-weighted images showed increased rCBF in the lesión, suggesting high vascularization (D).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Selective spinal angiography via the left T12 intercostal artery. Conventional angiographic image (A), and CT reconstruction of 3D rotational angiography (B). Angiography revealed a highly vascular mass supplied by the anterior spinal artery (artery of Adamkiewicz). The lesión presented well defined margins and tumor stain in the late angiographic phase, like the appearance of a “silk cocoon.”
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Intraoperative picture of the lesion, after durotomy (cranial to caudal from right to left). Hypervascular intradural extramedullary and well-marginated mass was observed.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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