Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2014 | Case report
An aggressive vertebral hemangioma in pregnancy: a case report
Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2014
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Introduction
Pregnancy-related compressive myelopathy secondary to vertebral hemangioma is a rare occurrence and its treatment antepartum is rare.
Case presentation
A 19-year-old North African woman in her 38th week of pregnancy presented with paraplegia that progressed within 2 days after a rapidly progressive weakness of her lower limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging studies showed compression of her spinal cord in front of the fourth thoracic vertebra for suspected tuberculous spondylitis. A Caesarean section was done followed by corpectomy with a bone graft because we intraoperatively discovered a vertebral hemangioma. Pathology showed an aggressive hemangioma.
Conclusion
At any term of pregnancy, extensive neurological involvement which is rapidly progressive due to compression should be considered for immediate decompression.