Intradural-extramedullary spinal cavernous angioma--case report.

An extremely rare case of intradural-extramedullary spinal cavernous angioma in a 65-year-old male is reported. The clinical presentation was recurrent episodes of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Magnetic resonance images disclosed the tumor at the 1st thoracic vertebra, without gadolinium enhancement. The tumor was tightly adhered to the cord surface and successfully removed microsurgically. The previous two reports of this unusual tumor also showed repeated SAH and the tumor attachment to the spinal cord or nerve roots. Intradural-extramedullary cavernous angioma possibly originates in the surface of the spinal cord or nerve root and then extends extraphytically.