Vertebral hemangioma symptomatic during pregnancy--report of a case and review of the literature.

A spinal tumor complicating pregnancy is a rare condition. A 25-year-old woman who became paraplegic during the 35th week of her second pregnancy presented during the postpartum period. She underwent two surgical interventions, and the cord compression caused by a T5 vertebral body hemangioma with laminar involvement and extradural extension was relieved. The occurrence of vertebral hemangiomas during pregnancy is discussed; the radiological features with special reference to magnetic resonance imaging are outlined; and cases from the literature are reviewed.