Extraforaminal, Thoracic, Epidural Cavernous Haemangioma: Case Report with Analysis of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characteristics and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Cavernous haemangiomas are developmental vascular hamartomas representing a single entity regardless of their location. As purely epidural lesions are rare, their clinical and radiological presentation could be confusing if located foraminally or extraforaminally. Thus, their signal characteristics providing valuable information will facilitate diagnosis and treatment.

Spinal Epidural Hemangiomas: Various Types of MR Imaging Features with Histopathologic Correlation

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][20][21][22][23] According to our results and previous reports, the most common MR features of cavernous spinal epidural hemangiomas were solid hypervascular masses with lobular contour. There have been only 2 case reports describing MR features of other types of spinal epidural hemangiomas.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] There have been several reports about MR features of a spinal epidural hemangioma. [4][5][6]8,9,[11][12][13] However, most are case reports about the cavernous type. We have found only 2 original articles that describe the MR imaging features of cavernous hemangiomas (with only 5 cases in each article).…”

Extradural cavernous hemangioma of thoracic spine

“…Cavernoma is a benign tumor and it is considered a dysplasia of the vessels-forming mesoderm 4 . Cavernous hemangiomas in the vertebral, extradural, intradural extramedullary and intramedullary spaces are responsible for 3 to 16% of spinal vascular anomalies 4,5 .…”

“…Cavernous hemangiomas in the vertebral, extradural, intradural extramedullary and intramedullary spaces are responsible for 3 to 16% of spinal vascular anomalies 4,5 .…”

“…Most of these malformations are intracranial: supratentorial compartment is a site usually affected 2,3 . Pure spinal epidural cavernomas represent approximately 12% of spinal cavernous anomalies 4 and the thoracic segment is the most frequently affected 5 . There are approximately 80 cases of epidural cavernous hemangioma published in the literature 4,5 .…”