Clinics in Diagnostic Imaging (68)

ST Lalloo, AG Mayat, AT Landers, SS Nadvi
Correspondence: Dr Shivu Lalloo, kasper7@mweb.co.za

ABSTRACT
Paragangliomas rarely present as spine tumours. The correct diagnosis is generally not suspected pre-operatively and initial imaging is often non-specific. A 36-year-old man with low back pain, and progressive leg numbness and weakness, was found to have an expansile intradural extramedullary spinal tumour on radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging. Surgery revealed a paraganglioma. The features of spinal paraganglioma and differential diagnosis of intradural extramedullary tumours are discussed.

Keywords: Paraganglioma, spine tumour, intradural extramedullary lesion, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, radiography
Singapore Med J 2001; 42(12): 592-595