Paragangliomas of the spinal canal

We report the clinical MRI and histopathological features of five consecuti ve cases of spinal paraganglioma. Three intradural tumours were found in th e typical location (two at the L4, one at the S2 level); one intradural ext ramedullary tumour arose at an unusual level, from the ventral C2 root, and one extradural tumour growing along the L5 nerve root sheath had an aggres sive growth pattern with early, local paraspinal recurrence and, eventually , intradural metastatic spread. This type of growth pattern has not been de scribed previously. Paragangliomas of the spinal canal are more common than previously thought and can be located anywhere along the spine, although t he lumbosacral level is the most common. Their appearance on MRI can not di singuish them from other tumours in the spinal canal. Even though paragangl iomas in general are benign and slowly growing their growth pattern can var y and be more aggressive, to the point of metastatic spread.