A case of a spinal epidural capillary hemangioma: case report.

Abstract

Spinal hemangiomas usually arise from the vertebral body. Epidural hemangiomas are rare lesions, and most reported cases are cavernous. We report a case of a capillary hemangioma in the thoracic epidural space. The 57-year-old male patient initially presented with low thoracic spine pain. A magnetic resonance image of the thoracolumbar spine demonstrated an avidly enhancing epidural mass lesion in the lower thoracic spine with extension into the adjacent foramina at 2 levels on the right side. The patient developed progressive myelopathy over the course of 2.5 years despite minimal radiological changes. Surgical treatment resulted in good recovery. Histopathologically, the lesion corresponded to a vascular tumor composed of vessels of various calibers with fibrous septa between them. Early treatment of this type of lesion should be advocated to prevent deterioration and permanent neurological deficits. Appropriate treatment appears to be gross total resection.