Estrogen and progesterone receptor negative T11 vertebral hemangioma presenting as a postpartum compression fracture: Case report and management

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Pregnancy-related vertebral hemangioma compressiv e myelopathy is a rare occurrence that tends to arise in the upper thoracic and lower cervical spine, peaks during the third trimester, and remits aft er parturition, Whether corticosteroid receptors play a role in the pathoge nesis of these lesions is unknown. Most of these lesions have been managed with posterior decompression CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 29-year-old woman presented with acute-onset lower -extremity weakness and sensory loss immediately after parturition. INTERVENTION: We used a retropleural approach for anterior decompression an d fusion, followed by radiation therapy. Immunohistochemical analysis of es trogen and progesterone receptor expression was performed. CONCLUSION: We report an unusual case of lower thoracic postpartum vertebra l hemangioma compressive myelopathy caused by a parturition-related compres sion fracture. Results of tests for corticosteroid receptors were negative, which implicated a hemodynamic rather than hormonal cause for disease prog ression.