Aggressive hemangioma of the thoracic spine

Authors

  • Wesley Schrock
  • Raun J. Wetzel
  • Stephanie C. Tanner
  • Majid A. Khan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3941/jrcr.v5i10.828

Keywords:

Aggressive hemangioma, Vertebral body, Cord compression

Abstract

Vertebral hemangiomas are common lesions and usually considered benign.  A rare subset of them, however, are characterized by extra-osseous extension, bone expansion, disturbance of blood flow, and occasionally compression fractures and thereby referred to as aggressive hemangiomas.  We present a case of a 67-year-old woman with progressive paraplegia and an infiltrative mass of T4 vertebra causing mass effect on the spinal cord.  Multiple conventional imaging modalities were utilized to suggest the diagnosis of aggressive hemangioma.  Final pathologic diagnosis after decompressive surgery confirmed the diagnosis of an osseous hemangioma.

Author Biographies

Wesley Schrock

Department of Radiology, University of Mississippi School of Medicine, House officer

Raun J. Wetzel

Department of Radiology, University of Mississippi School of Medicine, House officer

Stephanie C. Tanner

Department of Pathology, University of Mississippi School of Medicine, House officer

Majid A. Khan

Department of Radiology, University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Assistant professor

Published

2011-10-09

Issue

Section

Neuroradiology