Ligamentum flavum hematoma in the lumbar spine mimicking spinal tumor: A case report and review of the literature.

Liagmentum flavum hematoma (LFH) is a rare cause of radiculopathy and low back pain, sharing similar symptomatology with disc herniation. It predominantly affects the lumbar thoracic spine. The underlying mechanism of LFH remains unclear; however, surgical removal of the hematoma has consistently demonstrated excellent outcomes. The objective of this case report is to emphasize the significance of diagnosing LFH. We present a surgically confirmed lumbar LFH case that mimicked a lumbar tumor, highlighting the challenges encountered during diagnosis and subsequent management.

Intracranial iodinated contrast medium deposits 50 years following a previous myelography: A case report and literature review.

Before the advent of CT and MRI, and since the early 1920s, myelography has been used for the diagnosis of spinal cord lesions and lumbar disc herniations. We report a case of an 86-year-old man with a migration of lipiodol in the intracranial subarachnoid spaces. The patient had undergone a myelography in the early 1970s, 50 years earlier. Lipiodol, an iodized oil, was widely used as a contrast agent in conventional myelography for years and provided excellent radiographic visualization of the subarachnoid spaces. Although rare, images of its residues may still be encountered in modern radiographic imaging. Neurosurgeons and radiologists should be aware of this imaging appearance, and be able to differentiate it from possible pathologies.

Radicular interdural lumbar disc herniation.

Intraradicular lumbar disc herniation is a rare complication of disc disease that is generally diagnosed only during surgery. The mechanism for herniated disc penetration into the intradural space is not known with certainty, but adhesion between the radicular dura and the posterior longitudinal ligament was suggested as the most important condition. The authors report the first case of an intraradicular lumbar disc herniation without subdural penetration; the disc hernia was lodged between the two radicular dura layers. The patient, a 34-year-old soldier, was admitted with a 12-month history of low back pain and episodic left sciatica. Neurologic examination showed a positive straight leg raising test on the left side without sensory, motor or sphincter disturbances. Spinal CT scan and MRI exploration revealed a left posterolateral osteophyte formation at the L5-S1 level with an irregular large disc herniation, which migrated superiorly. An intradural extension was suspected. A left L5 hemilaminectomy and S1 foraminotomy were performed. The exploration revealed a large fragment of disc material located between the inner and outer layers of the left S1 radicular dura. The mass was extirpated without cerebrospinal fluid outflow. The postoperative course was uneventful. Radicular interdural lumbar disc herniation should be suspected when a swollen, hard and immobile nerve root is present intraoperatively.