Giant Cystic Sacral Schwannoma Mimicking Tarlov Cyst: a Case Report

Overview

Journal Eur Spine J

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2015 Jul 22

PMID 26195080

Citations 6

Authors

Mark A Attiah

Peter P Syre

John Pierce

Elizaveta Belyaeva

William C Welch

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: To present a rare case of a giant schwannoma of the sacrum mimicking a Tarlov cyst.

Methods: A 58-year-old woman had a 1-year history of low back pain. MRI revealed a large cystic mass in the sacral canal with bony erosion. Radiological diagnosis of Tarlov cyst was made.

Results: The patient underwent surgical treatment for the lesion, which revealed a solid mass. Histopathological examination of the tumor confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient has had significant improvement in her pain 1 month postoperatively.

Conclusion: Giant cystic schwannoma of the sacrum is a very rare diagnosis overlooked by practitioners for more common cystic etiologies, but its treatment is significantly different. Care should be taken to include this diagnosis in a differential for a cystic sacral mass.

Citing Articles

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Tarlov Cyst Rupture and Intradural Hemorrhage Mimicking Intraspinal Carcinomatosis.

Sudhakar T, Desir L, Ellis J Cureus. 2021; 13(6):e15423.

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Samman A, Bardeesi A, Alzahrani M Spinal Cord Ser Cases. 2021; 7(1):7.

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Possible Double Crush Syndrome Caused by Iatrogenic Acquired Lumbosacral Epidermoid Tumor and Concomitant Sacral Tarlov Cyst.

Nishimura Y, Hara M, Awaya T, Ando R, Eguchi K, Nagashima Y NMC Case Rep J. 2020; 7(4):195-199.

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