Extradural cervical spinal meningioma mimicking malignancy

Abstract

The vast majority of intraspinal meningiomas occur in an intradural extramedullary location. A meningioma in a purely extradural location in the cervical spine as reported here is quite exceptional. Extradural meningiomas tend to show more aggressive features than intradural meningiomas and are often confused with malignant neoplasms. We report an invasive extradural meningioma in the cervical spine with multi-segmental involvement, extension through the neural foramina and encasement of the subjacent vertebral artery, mimicking malignancies such as lymphoma and sarcoma. Although rare, meningiomas may demonstrate extradural multi-segmental growth and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of such lesions.