An unusual presentation of solitary fibrous tumor

Study Design. Case report of a lumbar extradural solitary fibrous tumor. Objective. To describe the clinical manifestations and successful treatment of a patient with solitary fibrous tumor Of the lumbar spine. Summary of Background Data. Solitary fibrous tumor usually occurs on the pl eura but has been described in a growing number of sites. Although this is the first case in a lumbar extradural location, clinicians should be aware of the many guises in which this entity appears. Most cases are benign and cure is effected by surgical extirpation. Methods. The diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of a patient with a lumbar e xtradural solitary fibrous tumor are reviewed. Results. A patient showing signs of myeloradiculopathy was found, by means of magnetic resonance imaging, to have an intensely enhancing extradural le sion in the region of L1. Excision biopsy revealed features of a solitary f ibrous tumor. The patient made a rapid, complete recovery. Conclusions. Solitary fibrous tumor has protean clinical manifestations and should be be considered in the differential diagnosis of intraspinal enhan cing lesions on either side of the dura.