Plexiform neurofibroma of the cauda equina: case report

Plexiform Neurofibroma of the Cauda Equina: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…In our patient, the clinical manifestations were atypical because there were already symptoms due to poliomyelitis at childhood. In our case, consistent with 2 others, 6,7 the neoplasm was of mixed intensity on T1-and T2-weighted images. The intraoperative findings of tumor encompassing the nerves of the cauda equina are not typical of plexiform neurofibromas in this area.…”

“…Plexiform neurofibromas of the cauda equina are extremely rare tumors, with only 5 cases reported in the literature. [3][4][5][6][7] The ages of the affected patients ranged from 4 to 68 years. The neoplasm was a malignant plexiform neurofibroma in only 1 adult patient.…”

“…Only 5 cases have been reported in the literature, and none were associated with neurofibromatosis. [3][4][5][6][7] Herein, we report another case of plexiform neurofibroma in the cauda equina in a patient without neurofibromatosis.…”

Intradural extramedullary cavernoma of a lumbar nerve root mimicking neurofibroma. A report of a rare case and the differential diagnosis

“…It enlarges into a heterogeneous mass causing symptoms by compression or by engulfing other nerve elements [10]. The MRI reveals a lesion of mixed intensity on T1-and T2-weighted images, with diffuse heterogeneous enhancement on postcontrast images [10,26]. When the lesion is localized on a nerve, the intraoperative findings are usually of one or more thickened and elongated nerves, but not a mass distinct from the involved nerves [9].…”

“…The treatment for neurofibromas is operative consisting of complete removal of the lesion by extensive surgical resection [9,26,28] to prevent or delay progression [11,26,28]. Postoperatively, in most of the patients the back pain improves, whereas the weakness and sensory loss remains [9].…”