Intramedullary schwannoma.

OBJECTIVE

To present the imaging findings for two cases of intramedullary schwannoma involving the thoracic cord and the conus medullaris.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

a 34-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman presented with symptoms of weakness and pain in the lower limbs. Myelography and magnetic resonance imaging as well as other examinations, were performed.

RESULTS

The imaging failed to indicate the correct diagnosis in either patient. However, intramedullary schwannoma was confirmed pathologically in both patients. Subtotal excision resulted in local tumour recurrence at 5 and 3 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Intramedullary schwannoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord tumours. The importance of accurate diagnosis from frozen sections at surgical biopsy is emphasized .