TITLE:
Spinal Cord Compression, a Rare Neurofibromatosis Complication
AUTHORS:
Habib Abdoul Karim Ouiminga, Sylvain D. Zabsonré, Aminath Kélani, Souleymane Ouattara, Assane Dravé, Raphael Marie Kabore, Désiré Harouna Sankara, Magatte Gaye
KEYWORDS:
Neurofibromatosis, Von Recklinghausen’s Disease, Spinal Cord Compression
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Neuroscience,
Vol.9 No.3,
August
13,
2019
ABSTRACT: Objective: The objective of this study
is to report a case of spinal cord compression, which is a rare complication of
neurofibromatosis type 1. Observation: We report the case of
a 45-year-old man, which presented
a syndrome of thoracic spinal cord compression at the stage of spastic paraparesis.
Its installation was gradually over 6 months associated with the inaugural back
pain. He had a clinical history of neurofibromatosis type 1 with “Café-au-lait”
spots. There were multiple painless nodules under the skin of different size on
the chest, forearms and legs. A large isolated nodule, purplish was observed on
the chest. The neuro-imaging showed a para-spinal anterior mass expansion inside the
spinal canal causing spinal compression at the level of the second and third thoracic vertebra. It extends into
the intervertebral foramen of the third and fourth thoracic vertebra leading to
a scalloping. A second large
heterogeneous left intra-abdominal mass containing cyst areas and
calcifications was discovered in imaging. After a spinal decompression with laminectomy of the second and
third thoracic vertebra, the reduction of pain and motor recovery was gradual.
The large nodule excision was performed. Histology found a plexiform
neurofibroma. Excision of the left intra-abdominal mass could
not be performed because the patient’s consent had not been obtained. Conclusion: The spinal cord
compression is a rare complication of neurofibromatosis type 1. However, it is
essential to think about it in front of any spinal
cord symptoms or any atypical long term spinal pain.