STUDY DESIGN: Case report of a lumbar extradural solitary fibrous tumor. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical manifestations and successful treatment of a patient with solitary fibrous tumor of the lumbar spine. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Solitary fibrous tumor usually occurs on the pleura but has been described in a growing number of sites. Although this is the first case in a lumbar extradural location, clinicians should be aware of the many guises in which this entity appears. Most cases are benign and cure is effected by surgical extirpation. METHODS: The diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of a patient with a lumbar extradural solitary fibrous tumor are reviewed. RESULTS: A patient showing signs of myeloradiculopathy was found, by means of magnetic resonance imaging, to have an intensely enhancing extradural lesion in the region of L1. Excision biopsy revealed features of a solitary fibrous tumor. The patient made a rapid, complete recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Solitary fibrous tumor has protean clinical manifestations and should be be considered in the differential diagnosis of intraspinal enhancing lesions on either side of the dura.
STUDY DESIGN: Case report of a lumbar extradural solitary fibrous tumor. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical manifestations and successful treatment of a patient with solitary fibrous tumor of the lumbar spine. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Solitary fibrous tumor usually occurs on the pleura but has been described in a growing number of sites. Although this is the first case in a lumbar extradural location, clinicians should be aware of the many guises in which this entity appears. Most cases are benign and cure is effected by surgical extirpation. METHODS: The diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of a patient with a lumbar extradural solitary fibrous tumor are reviewed. RESULTS: A patient showing signs of myeloradiculopathy was found, by means of magnetic resonance imaging, to have an intensely enhancing extradural lesion in the region of L1. Excision biopsy revealed features of a solitary fibrous tumor. The patient made a rapid, complete recovery. CONCLUSIONS:Solitary fibrous tumor has protean clinical manifestations and should be be considered in the differential diagnosis of intraspinal enhancing lesions on either side of the dura.