Spinal epidural reticulosarcomas. A review of 34 cases

Abstract

This tumor occurred mainly in males over 50 yr of age, and in patients aged 15 to 29 yr. Tumors were thoracic (16 cases), lumbosacral (10 cases) and cervical (5 cases). Differential diagnosis of thoracic tumors included sarcoma, meningioma and neurinoma. Pain of radicular type was the main symptom, allowing the differentiation between intra and extramedullary tumors. Early pain was present in 15 cases, preceeding other syptoms by months, or, in 2 cases, years. These tumors were classified into 3 groups according to histopathology and presence of reticulin. Patients with reticulosarcomas of group III type showed the longest survival period, possibly because this type of tumor grew slowly. Reticulosarcomas can have a satisfactory prognosis when diagnosed early and treated adequately. (42 references).