Cervical spine cord compression by eosinophilic granuloma: case report

RESUMO

Eosinophilic granuloma is a term reserved for the most often and benign form of disorder known as Langerhans cells histocytosis. It is a disease of children and adolescents that very rarely affects adults, representing the localized form of a pathological proliferation of histocytes in bones, like skull and long bones Bertebral involvement is uncommon, approximately 8 per cent of the cases, being the cervical localization the least affected. Moreover, the involvement of the spinal cord and roots remains a rare occurrence. Only five cases characterized by signs of cervical spinal cord compression have been reported. We report the sixth case in a 42-year-old-man who evolved with resolution of symptoms, and has remained asymptomatic after treatment. The clinical, radiological and histological features and, also the value, in selected cases, of surgical treatment followed by low-dose radiation therapy is discussed. A review of the pertinent literature is also presented.