Brown-Sequard syndrome after management of vertebral hemangioma with intralesional alcohol. A case report

• Published in: Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976) Vol. 24; no. 17; p. 1845
• Main Authors: Niemeyer, T, McClellan, J, Webb, J, Jaspan, T, Ramli, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.1999
• Subjects: Adult; Brown-Sequard Syndrome - chemically induced; Brown-Sequard Syndrome - diagnosis; Ethanol - administration & dosage; Ethanol - adverse effects; Ethanol - therapeutic use; Hemangioma - drug therapy; Hemangioma - pathology; Humans; Injections, Intralesional; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Spinal Cord Compression - etiology; Spinal Cord Compression - pathology; Spinal Cord Compression - therapy; Spinal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Spinal Neoplasms - pathology; Thoracic Vertebrae - pathology; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0362-2436
• DOI: 10.1097/00007632-199909010-00015

This report describes Brown-Sequard syndrome after intralesional injection of absolute alcohol into vertebral hemangioma. To discuss whether the described technique is safe in the management of vertebral hemangiomas. The management of vertebral hemangiomas remains controversial. There have been reports of successful management using intralesional absolute alcohol. The clinical and radiologic features of the reported complication are detailed. Intralesional injection of absolute alcohol caused Brown-Sequard syndrome. This case shows that intralesional alcohol injection cannot be considered a safe technique for management of vertebral hemangiomas with spinal cord compression.