Ventral Cervical Spinal Schwannoma Presenting as Progressive Myelopathy.
M Helmi, E Dolan, F Farooq et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A male in his 20s presented with a two-year history of progressive paraparesis and urinary incontinence. Neurological examination revealed signs of spasticity and reduced lower-limb power. MRI showed an intradural extramedullary lesion at the C4 to C5-C6 level, confirmed as schwannoma by histopathology. Following surgical resection, the patient experienced significant recovery in lower-limb strength and bladder control within six weeks.
What made this case unusual
The case is notable for the lower-limb-predominant presentation of cervical schwannoma, which is atypical and underscores the importance of thorough neurological examination.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider cervical schwannoma in patients with progressive myelopathy, especially when presenting with lower-limb symptoms.
Why it matters
This case emphasizes the need for careful neurological assessment to localize lesions accurately, which can influence diagnosis and management.