Spinal accessory nerve cavernous malformation

J Clin Neurosci. 2010 Feb;17(2):248-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2009.04.021.

Abstract

We present the first reported case of a spinal accessory nerve cavernous malformation. A 54-year-old Caucasian male presented with a several-year history of progressive, vague bilateral upper and lower extremity paresthesias and pain. MRI of the spine revealed a heterogenously enhancing mass in the dorsal aspect of the spinal canal at the level of the atlas with mild spinal cord compression. The lesion was resected and upon gross and histologic examination it was a cavernous malformation embedded within a branch of the spinal accessory nerve. Post-operatively, the patient had no complications and some improvement in his symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with a spinal accessory nerve cavernous malformation, and this should be considered in the differential of lesions in the craniocervical region.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accessory Nerve / blood supply
  • Accessory Nerve / pathology
  • Accessory Nerve / surgery
  • Accessory Nerve Diseases / complications
  • Accessory Nerve Diseases / pathology*
  • Accessory Nerve Diseases / surgery
  • Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / complications
  • Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / surgery
  • Decompression, Surgical
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / complications
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / pathology*
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / surgery
  • Humans
  • Laminectomy
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurosurgical Procedures
  • Paresthesia / etiology
  • Paresthesia / physiopathology
  • Spinal Canal / blood supply
  • Spinal Canal / pathology
  • Spinal Canal / surgery
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Spinal Cord / physiopathology
  • Spinal Cord / surgery
  • Spinal Cord Compression / etiology
  • Spinal Cord Compression / pathology*
  • Spinal Cord Compression / physiopathology
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Subarachnoid Space / blood supply
  • Subarachnoid Space / pathology
  • Subarachnoid Space / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome