Giant multilevel thoracic hemangioma with spinal cord compression in a patient with Klippel-Weber-Trenaunay syndrome: case report

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Jun 15;34(14):E498-500. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181a4e4b8.

Abstract

Study design: Case report and clinical discussion.

Objective: We intend to report a very rare case of a giant spinal hemangioma causing myelopathy.

Summary of background data: Multilevel symptomatic spinal hemangiomas causing acute neurologic symptoms are rare disorders. We found only sporadic reports in English literature.

Methods: We describe a very rare case in which Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome is associated with a multisegmental vertebral hemangioma causing a rapidly progressing thoracic myelopathy.

Results: Because of the extension of the disease, surgical intervention was not feasible, the patient was treated by radiotherapy. The patient showed a complete regression of symptoms with stable condition after 3 months.

Conclusions: In extensive spinal hemangiomas, radiotherapy may represent a safe treatment modality with rapid clinical improvement even in cases with spinal cord compression. This report contributes to a wide range of known vascular abnormalities in Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome and supports the need for a careful multisystemic evaluation of these patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hemangioma / complications
  • Hemangioma / pathology*
  • Hemangioma / radiotherapy
  • Humans
  • Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome / complications
  • Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome / pathology*
  • Male
  • Radiography
  • Spinal Cord Compression / complications
  • Spinal Cord Compression / pathology*
  • Spinal Cord Compression / radiotherapy
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / etiology
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / pathology
  • Spinal Neoplasms / complications
  • Spinal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Spinal Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / radiation effects
  • Treatment Outcome