Giant Granular Cell Tumor of the Cervical Spinal Cord Resected via Anterior Corpectomy with Reconstruction: Technical Note and Review of Literature.

Abstract

Granular cell tumors (GCT) are rare soft tissue neoplasms with a nerve sheath origin, most often found in female adult populations. When these tumors arise in the central nervous system, they most commonly appear intradurally in the thoracic or lumbar spine. GCT malignancy rates vary and recurrence rates can be relatively high, thereby necessitating complete resection. We present an exceedingly rare case of an intradural, extramedullary GCT originating in the anterior cervical spine of a male pediatric patient who presented with progressive neck pain and gait instability. The patient underwent an anterior C7 corpectomy for resection of the tumor, followed by stabilization and fusion, and recovered without neurologic deficit. A literature review of spinal GCTs is provided.