Anterior approach to intramedullary hemangioblastoma: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE

Intramedullary spinal cord tumors are generally operated on by using the posterior approach. However, the posterior approach may not be suitable for a tumor in the anterior part of the spinal cord. In this report, we describe a case of a cervical intramedullary tumor that was successfully removed by using the anterior approach.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

A 48-year-old woman presented with lower cranial nerve disturbance and motor weakness of the upper extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large extensive syrinx and an intramedullary enhanced tumor at the C6 level. The tumor was located at the left of the anterior part of the spinal cord.

INTERVENTION

Based on these findings, the anterior approach was used in performing a corpectomy of C5 and C6. The tumor was highly vascular and was resected without resulting in any operative deficits. The pathological diagnosis was hemangioblastoma.

CONCLUSION

The present case suggests that the anterior approach is an important option among surgical approaches to the intramedullary tumor in cases in which the tumors are small in size and are located in the anterior part of the cervical cord.