Congenital maldevelopment of intervertebral disc simulating a neurofibroma

Skeletal Radiol. 1998 Jul;27(7):388-91. doi: 10.1007/s002560050404.

Abstract

Intervertebral disc herniation is a common cause of radiculopathy and myelopathy in adulthood. It is an uncommon tumor mimic. We report on an extradural disc associated with an osseous defect ostensibly caused by pressure erosion and appearing as a neural tumor. It showed homogeneous enhancement on a contrast-enhanced MR examination, leading to an erroneous diagnosis of nerve sheath tumor. An attempt has been made to explain the likely mechanism of formation accounting for the imaging appearances, along with a review of the literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intervertebral Disc / abnormalities*
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / complications
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / diagnosis*
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / surgery
  • Low Back Pain / etiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurofibroma / diagnosis*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / diagnosis*