Solitary fibrous tumor of the spinal cord: case report and review of the literature.

Abstract

Abstract OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: A solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare neoplasm of probable mesenchymal origin that was first reported in the pleura but can occur in different sites. Only six cases of SFT arising from the spinal cord have been reported. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We report a case of primary SFT occurring in the thoracic spinal cord in a 64-year-old man with Brown-Séquard syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intradural mass at the level of T2–T3. INTERVENTION: Total T2–T3 laminectomies were performed. The tumor appeared to be adherent to the right lateral aspect of the cord but not attached to the meninges. On histological examination, the tumor exhibited spindle cell proliferation with abundant dense collagen but without a hemangiopericytomatous pattern. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were reactive with CD34 and vimentin only. CONCLUSION: We report a rare case of SFT occurring in the thoracic spinal cord. Histologically and immunohistochemically, we confirmed the diagnosis of SFT. Low signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images corresponded to the histological findings. When a spinal cord tumor exhibits a signal pattern similar to this, SFT should be included in the differential diagnosis. Because of the rarity of reports on this condition, the clinical manifestations and course of SFT of the spinal cord are unknown, and careful long-term follow-up is recommended.