Spinal intradural extramedullary cavernoma presenting with intracranial superficial hemosiderosis

Abstract

A case of intradural extramedullary cavernous angioma is presented with headache, dizziness, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss caused by an intracranial superficial hemosiderosis. It was incidentally found in a patient with a 3-month history of sustained headache, dizziness and a 3-year history of hearing difficulty. The neurological examination was unremarkable in the lower extremity. MR images showed an intracranial superficial hemosiderosis mostly in the cerebellar region. Myelography and MR images of the thoracolumbar spine revealed an intradural extramedullary mass, which was pathologically proven to be a cavernous angioma. T12 total laminoplastic laminotomy and total tumor removal were performed without any neurologic deficits. The patient's symptoms, including headache and dizziness, have been absent for three years. Intradural extramedullary cavernous angloma can present with an intracranial superficial hemosiderosis as a result of chronic subarachnoid hemorrhage. © 2011 The Korean Neurosurgical Society.