Seropositive Neuromyelitis Optica imitating an Intramedullary Cervical Spinal Cord Tumor: Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature
Asian Spine Journal
;
: 684-688, 2014.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-27058
ABSTRACT
A 44-year-old woman with progressive cervical myelopathy and central cord syndrome was noted to have an extensive cervical intramedullary contrast-enhancing lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The lesion resembled a spinal astrocytoma or ependymoma that required surgical intervention. She was subsequently diagnosed to have neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a rare idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disorder, when the clinical examination revealed left optic atrophy. This was confirmed by a test showing seropositivity for NMO-immunoglobulin (IgG). Disease control was achieved with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy. We report a rare case of a patient with NMO who had MRI features that could have easily led to the condition being misdiagnosed as a spinal cord tumor. The importance of careful history taking, awareness of typical radiological findings and the usefulness of serum NMO-IgG as a diagnostic tool are emphasized.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Astrocytoma
/
Spinal Cord Diseases
/
Spinal Cord Neoplasms
/
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
/
Optic Atrophy
/
Neuromyelitis Optica
/
Demyelinating Diseases
/
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
/
Central Cord Syndrome
/
Ependymoma
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Asian Spine Journal
Year:
2014
Type:
Article
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