Familial neurilemoma of the spinal cord in a mother and daughter.

Neurilemoma of the spinal cord occurred in a mother and daughter. Case 1 was a 75-year-old woman with gait disturbance. Examination revealed weakness of the lower extremities, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed an intradural extramedullary tumor at T12. After laminectomy, the histologic diagnosis was mixed Antoni type A and B neurilemoma. Case 2 was a 48-year-old woman (daughter of case 1). She presented with cervical pain and numbness of both hands. Examination revealed weakened intrinsic muscles of the right hand and paresthesia of the right upper arm. MR imaging showed a giant hourglass-shaped extradural tumor at C2 and C3. The histologic diagnosis was Antoni type A neurilemoma. Only six families with neurilemoma have been reported, including our patients. Gene analysis of such patients may clarify the etiology of neurilemoma.