Sudden perceived absence of foetal movement – a unique presentation of a vertebral haemangioma in pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: Symptomatic vertebral haemangiomas that present during pregnancy are extremely uncommon with few cases reported in literature. Epidural haemangiomas are rarer still with few documented. Methods: In this report, we describe the case of a 22-year-old pregnant patient who presented with apparent loss of foetal movement at 38 weeks’ gestation. Clinical review demonstrated the foetus was well but neurological examination revealed lower limb paresthesia, paresis, and evident uterine hypoesthesia. An MRI scan illustrated a haemangioma in the T1 vertebral body with an epidural component causing cord compression. Results: The management of spinal haemangiomas that present during pregnancy is a complex clinical scenario which requires careful multidisciplinary consideration to determine if surgical intervention is appropriate. In this case, the patient had an emergency caesarean section followed by posterior decompression and laminectomy of the T1 vertebra with excellent post-operative recovery. Conclusion: Gestational increase in the size of vertebral haemangiomas is well documented. We discuss a rare case in which a young pregnant patient presents with an atypical symptom of a vertebral haemangioma (uterine hypoesthesia). This case highlights the importance of prompt imaging in these scenarios and a cohesive multidisciplinary approach in order to provide optimal treatment for the patient.