Week 313: Case 4

1. Presented by Peter Illei, M.D. and prepared by Amy Duffield, M.D., Ph.D.

This 77 y.o. white male patient with a history of multiple previous lumbar spine operations (x3) for an unknown spinal tumor presented with progressive worsening of low back pain, severe left lower extremity pain and weakness and bowel and bladder dysfunction. The patient's myelogram and post myelogram CT scan demonstrated a complete block behind the L2 vertebral body. Furthermore, the patient had a large disc herniation of the L2-3 level on the right side with compression on the right L3 nerve root. The patient also had significant bilateral foraminal sclerosis at the L4-5 level with compression of both L5 nerve roots. During surgery an intradural extramedullary tumor was identified at L4-5 and submitted for frozen section analysis.

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