Seropositive Neuromyelitis Optica imitating an Intramedullary Cervical Spinal Cord Tumor: Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature.
- Author:
Peter Yat Ming WOO
1
;
Jennifer Hiu Fung CHIU
;
Kar Ming LEUNG
;
Kwong Yau CHAN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Neuromyelitis optica; Intramedullary spinal cord neoplasms; Demyelinating disorders; Magnetic resonance imaging
- MeSH: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Astrocytoma; Central Cord Syndrome; Demyelinating Diseases; Ependymoma; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neuromyelitis Optica*; Optic Atrophy; Spinal Cord Diseases; Spinal Cord Neoplasms*
- From:Asian Spine Journal 2014;8(5):684-688
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: A 44-year-old woman with progressive cervical myelopathy and central cord syndrome was noted to have an extensive cervical intramedullary contrast-enhancing lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The lesion resembled a spinal astrocytoma or ependymoma that required surgical intervention. She was subsequently diagnosed to have neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a rare idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disorder, when the clinical examination revealed left optic atrophy. This was confirmed by a test showing seropositivity for NMO-immunoglobulin (IgG). Disease control was achieved with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy. We report a rare case of a patient with NMO who had MRI features that could have easily led to the condition being misdiagnosed as a spinal cord tumor. The importance of careful history taking, awareness of typical radiological findings and the usefulness of serum NMO-IgG as a diagnostic tool are emphasized.
