Cervical extradural meningioma with rapidly progressive myelopathy

A 50-year-old man noticed numbness of both hands. Muscle strength in the upper and lower extremities progressively deteriorated, and he became unable to stand or hold a cup over a five-day period. MRI showed an extradural tumour encasing the anterior, posterior and right lateral aspects of the cervical spinal cord, maximal at C3-4 but extending to C1, and emerging from the right C3-4 intervertebral foramen. At surgery, the tumour was entirely extradural. Histological examination revealed a meningioma. The patient recovered without neurological deficit with no recurrence 3 years after surgery. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.