A rare case of life-threatening giant plexiform schwannoma

Abstract

A 28-year-old woman with idiopathic scoliosis presented with a cervical mass and progressive gait disturbance over the course of 2 years. Examination demonstrated mild spastic paraplegia, hypoesthesia with upper level at T5 and severe respiratory failure requiring assisted ventilation. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple thoracic masses compressing left lung, trachea, and spinal cord (Figure). Surgical resection was performed. Through C5–T1 laminectomy, the intradural part of the neoplasia was completely removed, and the extradural part was enucleated as much as possible.