Keimyung Med J.  2015 Jun;34(1):70-73. 10.0000/kmj.2015.34.1.70.

Thoracic Spine Tumor Mimicking Cauda Equina Syndrome

• Lee SJ

• KMID: 2093093
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kmj.2015.34.1.70

Abstract

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is one of the typical symptoms condition requires emergency operation. This syndrome is always accompanied by sciatica. Because schwannomas rarely cause sciatica, it is seldom considered as a pain source in the patient with radiculopathy. A 74-year-old male patient presented with lumbar radiculopathy symptoms with, mild stenosis on lumbar MRI scan. All conservative treatment including medication failed to subside the symptoms. Thoracic spine MRI revealed a large tumor in the thoracic region. The symptoms disappeared after excision of the tumor. The tumor was diagnosed as a schwannoma.

Keyword

Mimicking cauda equina syndrome; Schwannoma; Thoracic spine tumor

MeSH Terms

Aged
Cauda Equina*
Constriction, Pathologic
Emergencies
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Neurilemmoma
Polyradiculopathy*
Radiculopathy
Sciatica
Spine*