An intradural extramedullary bronchogenic cyst in the thoracolumbar spine: A case report

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) Vol. 96; no. 50; p. e9263
• Main Authors: Lee, Hyeok Dong, Han, Seung Hoon, Park, Si-Bog, Ko, Yong, Lee, Kyu Hoon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wolters Kluwer Health 01.12.2017
• Subjects: Adult; Bronchogenic Cyst - diagnosis; Bronchogenic Cyst - diagnostic imaging; Bronchogenic Cyst - pathology; Bronchogenic Cyst - surgery; Clinical Case Report; Dura Mater - pathology; Dura Mater - surgery; Humans; Laminectomy; Low Back Pain - diagnosis; Low Back Pain - pathology; Low Back Pain - surgery; Lumbar Vertebrae - pathology; Lumbar Vertebrae - surgery; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Thoracic Vertebrae - pathology; Thoracic Vertebrae - surgery
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000009263

We report the symptoms beginning with weakness and the clinical courses of a patient who was diagnosed with an intradural extramedullary bronchogenic cyst. The patient was a 44-year-old man visited the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for walking difficulties characterized by limping due to muscle weakness of left lower extremity for 5 months and atrophy in left calf muscle. Lumbar spine MRI was repeated, since radiating pain in the left hip and posterior thigh with low back pain developed 16 months later. Intraspinal mass of T12 and L1 levels that was not found in the first MRI was newly found in the follow-up MRI. Total tumor removal was conducted with laminectomy. It was finally diagnosed as an intradural extramedullary bronchogenic cyst on the basis of the pathological analysis results. His left calf circumference was increased compared to before surgery the radiating pain also disappeared. If the patient's MRI findings are not correlated with the electrophysiologic and physical examination findings, additional MRI should be accompanied with other tests for an early detection.