PARAGANGLIOMA OF THE CAUDA-EQUINA - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

A 59-year-old man presented with clinical evidence of a primary tumor of the cauda equina region. It was well circumscribed and was complete ly removed by neurosurgery. Routine staining showed that it had struct ural similarities to an ependymoma, but immunohistochemistry with anti sera to synaptophysin, NSE, chromogranin-A and PGP 9.5 proved it to be a neuroendocrine tumor, i.e. a paraganglioma. We propose the use of e ndocrine markers in cases with tumors of the cauda equina to different iate a paraganglioma from an ependymoma. Paragangliomas appear to have a better clinical outcome than ependymomas. Recurrence after surgery for a paraganglioma in the cauda equina region, especially if it is en capsulated, is rarely encountered.