CYLINDRICAL SPINAL MENINGIOMA - A CASE-REPORT

A case of cylindrical spinal meningioma is reported. This most unusual morphology suggested a preoperative diagnosis of either lymphoma, met astatic epidural tumor, or meningioma. At operation, the tumor was fou nd to be hard and extremely adherent to the cord, so its anterior part had to be left in place. Transient paraplegia was observed postoperat ively, but the patient recovered normal stance and gait within 6 month s. Three years after the operation, magnetic resonance imaging demonst rated a very slow progression of the remaining tumor with an estimated increase of 5%. The differential diagnosis of this lesion by magnetic resonance, its clinical postoperative evolution, and the surgical str ategy are discussed.