Intramedullary neurilemomas of the spinal cord: report of two cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Two patients harboring intramedullary neurilemomas of the spinal cord are presented. Published reports of these rare lesions and possible mechanisms of their origin are reviewed. Based on the authors' experience and review of the literature, they think that the treatment of choice for these rare lesions is laminectomy and resection and that intraoperative frozen section diagnosis is essential. Incorrect interpretation of the biopsy material that suggests an original diagnosis of infiltrating glioma, perhaps because a neurilemoma was not expected, has made second operations necessary.