Yonsei Med J.  2005 Aug;46(4):575-578. 10.3349/ymj.2005.46.4.575.

C-1 Root Schwannoma with Aggressive Lateral Mass Invasion

• Kim JH
• Lee JH
• Park YK
• Kwon TH
• Chung HS

• KMID: 1716531
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2005.46.4.575

Abstract

Schwannomas are relatively common, benign tumors that are thought to arise from the nerve sheath cell. Schwannomas of the C1 root are extremely rare and seldom invade lateral masses because they gradually increase in size and can extend through the wide space behind the lateral mass instead of the intervertebral foramen. We present here an unusual case of a benign schwannoma that aggressively invaded the lateral mass of C-1.

Keyword

Schwannoma; C-1 root; computed tomography (CT) ; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

MeSH Terms

Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Invasiveness
Neurilemmoma/*pathology
Spinal Neoplasms/*pathology
Spinal Nerve Roots/*pathology

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A and B: Pre-operative CT scan with bone setting reveals extensive erosion with marginal sclerosis in the right transverse process and superior articular facet of C-1 (white triangle).

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  Fig. 2 (A, B) Axial T1-weighted MRI scan reveals a multilobulated mass involving the lateral mass of C-1 and enhancing moderately with indefinite tumor margin (white triangle). (C) Coronal T2-weighted MRI scan reveals mass in the right articular facet of C-1 spine (white triangle). (D) After 1 year, MRI scan demonstrates the remnant of the tumor after radiotherapy (white arrow).

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  Fig. 3 Histological examination reveals a schwannoma composed of interwoven bundles of spindle-shaped, fibrillated cells (hematoxylin and eosin, 200×, A) and immunopositivity for vimentin(200×, B) and S-100 (200×, C).

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