Non-dural-based spinal meningioma : the first case report of a fibrous subtype and a review of the literature.

Spinal meningiomas typically adhere to the dura matter. Non-dural based spinal meningiomas are rare and most are clear cell meningiomas. We report here the first case of a fibrous meningioma with non-dural attachment. The patient was a 49-year-old female, who complained of numbness in the legs and a gait disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 1.7×1.4-cm mass in the C7-T1 intra-dural extramedullary space, showing peripheral gadolinium enhancement without a "dural tail sign". A complete microsurgical resection was performed. The mass was covered with a white membrane but was not adhered to the dura, and its appearance was consistent with a neurilemmoma. The histopathological diagnosis was fibrous-type meningioma. The recovery of the patient was uneventful. No surgical complications and no recurrence of the tumor had occurred at the 6-month follow-up.