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Background Meningeal melanocytoma is a rare benign lesion found in the central nervous system. Preoperative diagnosis of meningeal melanocytoma is often a diagnostic challenge, as the clinical and neurologic features are often nonspecific. Various characteristics, including the natural course of this tumor, remain poorly understood. We report a case of a rapidly growing dumbbell-shaped melanocytoma compressing the spinal cord that manifested 2 years after a tumor was identified at the right C2-C3 foramen. Case Description A 40-year-old, right-handed man presented with a 2-month history of right palm and left leg numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine showed a dumbbell-shaped tumor at the right C2-C3 foramen with extension into the central canal. The lesion was hyperintense on T1-weighted images and hypointense to isointense on T2-weighted images. Contrast enhancement was not visualized clearly. Fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography with computed tomography showed intense uptake in the lesion. The patient's history included a small lesion that had been localized at the right C2-C3 foramen 2 years before admission. The pathologic findings were consistent with melanocytoma. Conclusions It is important to include meningeal melanocytoma in the differential diagnosis of dumbbell tumors, as meningeal melanocytomas may show rapid progression.

AIM To determine the prevalence of a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in osteoporotic vertebral fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data were retrospectively collected from the medical records of 50 patients who were admitted to the Kameda Medical Center for osteoporotic vertebral fracture from 2019 to 2020. Inpatients were screened for DVT using D-dimer, and those who were screened positive underwent lower extremity venous ultrasonography to confirm DVT. Associations between various clinical factors and DVT were analyzed. RESULTS Six (12.0%) inpatients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures were found to have DVT. Two (33.3%) of the six had proximal DVT, although no pulmonary embolism was detected by chest computed tomography angiography. Univariate analysis showed that D-dimer values and duration from onset to hospitalization were predictive of DVT (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The prevalence of DVT among inpatients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures was 12.0%. This finding emphasizes the importance of DVT screening using D-dimer in those with osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Background Ganglioneuroma is a well-differentiated benign tumor that develops from the ganglion cells of the posterior mediastinum, retroperitoneum, cervical spine, and adrenal glands. The paravertebral body, in which the sympathetic trunk exists, is a common tumor site, and tumor sometimes invades the spinal canal through the intervertebral foramen. There have been no reports regarding tumors with intradural and extradural continuity. We report a paravertebral ganglioneuroma extending between the intradural and extradural spaces and its surgical treatment. Case Description A 33-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with progressive left lower limb numbness. A dumbbell-type tumor progressing to the spinal canal via the left intervertebral foramen from the paravertebral body at L1-2 was detected, and intradural calcified lesions were found. Pathologic examination of a computed tomography–guided biopsy sample revealed a ganglioglioma. The extradural tumor was removed; however, the left lower limb pain gradually worsened. As complete block was observed on myelography, the intradural tumor was removed 8 months later. Intraoperative findings revealed that the intradural and extradural tumors were continuous through the L1 nerve root. Conclusions This is the first known reported case of paravertebral ganglioneuroma presenting in continuity between the intradural and extradural spaces.

It is difficult to treat atlantoaxial instability in patients with a high-riding vertebral artery or anomalies of the craniocervical junction. We report 2 successful cases in which the transspinal canal screwing technique was used because of difficulties performing conventional fixation methods. Case 1: A 78-year-old woman suffered from progressive myelopathy due to severe spinal cord compression with a congenital anomaly of the craniovertebral junction. Bilateral transspinal canal screws from the axis body with spondylolisthesis to the dens were inserted by retracting the dural sac medially after foramen magnum decompression and cervical laminoplasty. Case 2: A 20-year-old man with a spinal deformity due to Loeys-Dietz syndrome presented to our hospital for treatment of syringomyelia. He had no obvious neurological deficits, but spinal cord compression due to right atlantoaxial rotating dislocation was observed. A screw was inserted from the vertebral body of the axis to the right lateral mass of the atlas via the spinal canal after laminectomy of the atlas. The transspinal canal screwing technique is useful for treating atlantoaxial instability in cases where other fixation methods are difficult.

Background: Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) associated with tumors of the cauda equina is rare. Here, we report two cases of NPH attributed to cauda equina ependymomas. Case Description: A 63-year-old male presented with progressive gait disturbance, dementia, and urinary incontinence. When the lumbar MR documented an intradural tumor involving the cauda equina at the L2-L3 level; the tumor was excised; pathologically, it proved to be a myxopapillary ependymoma. Postoperatively, however, the patient’s continued gait disturbance led to a brain CT that documented ventricular dilation consistent with NPH; following ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement his symptoms improved. A 65-year-old female also presented with gait disturbance, dementia, and urinary retention. Here, procedures were performed in reverse. When a brain CT showed hydrocephalus, a VP shunt was placed. When symptoms persisted, a lumbar MR demonstrated a T12-L2 intradural tumor; following a lumbar laminectomy for tumor excision, symptoms stabilized. The pathological diagnosis was also consistent with a conus/cauda equina ependymoma. Over the next 10 years, the patient had residual bladder dysfunction (e.g., requiring straight catheterization), but had no shunt dysfunction. Conclusion: We observed two cases of ependymomas of the cauda equina and brain CTs documenting NPH that was successfully surgically managed with stabilization of neurological deficit. In the first case, L2-L3 laminectomy for tumor removal was succeeded by shunting for NPH, while in the second case, initial VP shunting for NPH was followed by a T12-L2 laminectomy for tumor excision.

To analyze the clinical characteristics of thoracic ossified ligamentum flavum (OLF) and clarify prognostic factors.We retrospectively collected clinical data from the medical records of 29 patients who underwent decompressive surgery for myelopathy caused by thoracic OLF from 2011 to 2019. Associations between various clinical and radiological factors and surgical outcomes were analyzed.The mean preoperative and final follow-up modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were 6.7 and 7.9 points, respectively (mean follow-up period, 22.4 months; P 0.0001). Univariate analysis revealed that preoperative symptom duration and postoperative epidural hematoma on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were significant surgical outcome predictors. The recovery rate was higher in patients without postoperative epidural hematoma (n = 16) than in those with postoperative epidural hematoma (n = 13; 38.7% ± 28.1% vs. 12.9% ± 24.4% mm; P = 0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that postoperative epidural hematoma on MRI was a significant surgical outcome predictor (P 0.05).Posterior decompressive laminectomy and resection of OLF can be considered effective. Postoperative epidural hematoma on MRI may be an important surgical outcome predictor.

Tumoral calcinosis involving the spine is rare. The involvement of the thoracic spine is rarer than that of the cervical or lumbar spine. We report a case of thoracic tumoral calcinosis accompanied by vertebral fracture with increased concentrations of inflammatory markers and no abnormalities in serum calcinosis and phosphorus concentration. A 60-year-old woman presented with complete paraplegia. Her white blood cell count and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration were elevated. The thoracic magnetic resonance imaging revealed vertebral fracture and an epidural mass that demonstrated low intensity on both T2- and T1-weighted images at the T9/10 dorsal side of the central canal. This lesion is larger in size than that observed in the previous 2 months. Her laboratory data showed signs of infection, and only decompression surgery without fixation for treatment and diagnosis was performed. Histopathological examination was consistent with tumoral calcinosis. Postoperatively, the patient’s white cell count and CRP concentration were normalized. We found that tumoral calcinosis can occur at the thoracic level on the basis of the spinal instability due to the vertebral compression fracture and the accompanying increase in inflammation indicated by increased white blood cell count and CRP concentration.

Spinal subdural abscesses are rare lesions. We report the case of surgical site infection complicated with meningitis and rapidly progressive spinal subdural abscess caused by P. aeruginosa following transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of drop foot syndrome and sciatica caused by stenosis of the L5/6 intervertebral foramen accompanied by L5 lumbar vertebral fracture. Accordingly, TLIF of L5-L6 and balloon kyphoplasty of L5 were performed. On the 3rd postoperative day (POD), she was diagnosed with surgical site infection complicated with bacterial meningitis. Subcutaneous fluid, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid cultures indicated P. aeruginosa. On the 7th POD, a repeat MRI showed a large dorsal fluid collection consistent with a subdural infection and massive cauda equina compression. We performed debridement and instrument removal and found a dural laceration that was not observed during the first operation. An intraoperative insensible dural laceration may cause bacteria intrusion into the subdural space.

Background context Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) from tailgut cysts are rare; only 15 cases have been reported until now. A tailgut cyst with spinal cord tethering has not been previously reported, although both diseases are congenital anomalies in the early stage of gestation. Purpose To report a rare case of NET from tailgut cyst associated with spinal cord tethering and review the literature. Study design Case report and literature review. Methods We describe the clinical course of a 53-year-old man, who presented with gluteal pain and bladder dysfunction. Magnetic resonance images showed that a tumor of the sacral spinal canal extended into the retrorectal space and connected to a thickened fatty filum terminale, which was tethering the spinal cord. Results Because of tumor malignancy on a computed tomography-guided biopsy and the imaging data of involvement of presacral lymph nodes, we performed total removal of the tumor. Pathologic examination revealed NET (Grade 2) arising from a tailgut cyst. The patient received somatostatin analog therapy after surgery, followed by local radiation because of the further enlargement of the lymph nodes. Later, we started everolimus therapy for the metastases to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. He presented with no local recurrence or further disease progression at 28 months after surgery. The review indicated that tumors in Grade 2 or 3 showed progressive clinical course after surgery and three of seven patients with biopsy were misdiagnosed. Conclusions The correct preoperative diagnosis of NETs from tailgut cysts is difficult, but extremely important because Grade 2 or 3 tumors show disease progression even after surgery. Presacral congenital tumors, such as tailgut cysts, have the potential of malignant transformation into neuroendcrine tumors or adenocarcinomas. Comorbidity of spinal cord tethering and tailgut cyst suggests some relationship to common developmental errors in embryogenesis.

There have been few clinical studies in the area of cervical spine that focused on surgery for treating degenerative lumbar disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). High rates of wound complications and instrumentation failure have been reported more for RA than for non-RA patients, although clinical outcomes are similar between the two groups. Lumbar canal stenosis in RA is caused not only by degeneration but also by RA-related spondylitis, which includes facet arthritis and inflammation around the vertebral endplate. The pitfalls in surgical management of lumbar canal stenosis in RA patients are highlighted in this study. The study reviewed 12 patients with RA, who were surgically treated for lumbar canal stenosis. Two out of five patients with pulmonary fibrosis died of worsened pulmonary condition, even though there were no perioperative pulmonary complications. Two patients with pedicle screw fixation showed no instrumentation failure, but two patients with spinous process fixation needed re-operation or vertebral fracture. Surgical treatment for lumbar canal stenosis in RA patients needs to be individually adjusted. Preoperative assessments and treatments of pulmonary fibrosis and osteopenia are essential. Surgery for lumbar canal stenosis with RA should be deferred for patients with advanced pulmonary fibrosis because of its potential life-threatening risk. Fusion surgery is indicated only in patients with kyphosis or severe symptoms caused by intervertebral instability. Pedicle screw fixation with hydroxyapatite granules or sublaminar tape is recommended. Closer follow-up after surgery is necessary because of possible delayed wound infection, instrumentation failure, pathological fracture, and respiratory deterioration.

Proteus syndrome is a rare, sporadic, hamartomatous disorder manifesting with multifocal overgrowth of tissue. The features seem to develop most often during childhood. Vertebral overgrowth with severe spinal canal stenosis is unusual, although scoliosis with abnormal vertebral bodies is one of the typical features of Proteus syndrome. We report a case of Proteus syndrome with severe spinal canal stenosis, scoliosis, cervical kyphosis, and thoracic deformity with airway obstruction because of asymmetrical overgrowth of vertebrae and ribs associated with a tethered cord, lipomas, strawberry hemangioma, flat nasal bridge, and bilateral hypoplasty of the first metatarsal bones with hyperplasty of soft tissue.

✓ Perineural cysts have become a common incidental finding during lumbosacral magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Only some of the symptomatic cysts warrant treatment. The authors describe the successful operative treatment of a patient with, to the best of their knowledge, the largest perineural cyst reported to date. A 29-year-old woman had been suffering from long-standing constipation and low-back pain. During an obstetric investigation for infertility, the clinician discovered a huge presacral cystic mass. Computed tomography myelography showed the lesion to be a huge Tarlov cyst arising from the left S-3 nerve root and compressing the ipsilateral S-2 nerve. The cyst was successfully treated by ligation of the cyst neck together with sectioning of the S-3 nerve root. Postoperative improvement in her symptoms and MR imaging findings were noted. Identification of the nerve root involved by the cyst wall, operative indication, operative procedure, and treatment of multiple cysts are important preoperative considerations.

✓ Introduction of a double-lumen Swan-Ganz balloon catheter into the parent artery facilitated precise identification of the proximal neck in two giant paraclinoidal aneurysms. Reduction of the flow rate as low as possible and positioning of the patient's head were the most important factors in this procedure.