Abstract
There is growing evidence to suggest that pregnancy may increase the risk of hemorrhage from cavernous malformations (CMs). In the present case, a 21-year-old primigravida was admitted to the authors' neurosurgical service after a cesarean section. Three weeks before admission she had experienced rapidly progressive bilateral lower-extremity paresthesias. Spinal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed the presence of an intramedullary thoracic lesion. On T2-weighted MR images, heterogeneous signal intensity with a rim of decreased intensity was demonstrated in the spine. The mass was successfully resected, and 1 year later the patient's symptoms had resolved completely. This is the fourth reported case of a spinal intramedullary CM that became symptomatic during pregnancy. The pathogenesis and management of this entity are reviewed.
MeSH terms
-
Adult
-
Cesarean Section
-
Disease Progression
-
Early Diagnosis
-
Emergency Treatment / standards
-
Female
-
Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / complications*
-
Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / physiopathology*
-
Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / surgery
-
Hemorrhage / etiology
-
Hemorrhage / prevention & control
-
Hemorrhage / surgery
-
Humans
-
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
-
Neurosurgical Procedures / methods
-
Paresthesia / etiology
-
Paresthesia / physiopathology
-
Pregnancy
-
Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / diagnosis
-
Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / etiology*
-
Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / physiopathology
-
Spinal Cord / blood supply
-
Spinal Cord / pathology*
-
Spinal Cord / physiopathology
-
Spinal Cord Neoplasms / complications*
-
Spinal Cord Neoplasms / physiopathology*
-
Spinal Cord Neoplasms / surgery
-
Thoracic Vertebrae
-
Treatment Outcome
-
Vascular Surgical Procedures / methods
-
Veins / abnormalities*
-
Veins / pathology
-
Veins / physiopathology