Ventrally located cervical intramedullary cavernous angioma: selection of posterior and anterior approaches: case report.

A 41-year-old woman presented with a rare cervical intramedullary cavernous angioma manifesting as acute paralysis in her left upper extremity. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed hematomyelia. Laminectomy (C2-C7) was performed, followed by posterior midline myelotomy and removal of the intramedullary hematoma and the tumor. She showed marked improvement after the surgery. However, 3 years and 10 months later the patient showed slight intramedullary bleeding located ventrally at the same level. Anterior approach with corpectomy was performed. Complete removal of the tumor was attained and salvage surgery was performed. Postoperative stabilization was achieved with excellent clinical outcome. The anterior approach is useful method as a salvage surgery for ventrally located cavernous angioma.