Extradural Spinal Hamartoma Causing Spinal Cord Compression in an Adolescent Male: An Extremely Rare Case and Review of the Literature

Spinal hamartoma is an extremely rare, benign spinal lesion occurring in children. It may cause spinal cord compression and subsequent neurological deficits. On reviewing the literature, of a total of 20 cases, only 2 cases are reported in an adolescent age group. It may be a pure spinal hamartoma, or sometimes it may be associated with either neurofibromatosis type I or spinal dysraphism. MRI is the investigation of choice. Surgical excision of the lesion and the decompression of the cord are the definitive treatment. Here, we present a similar case in a 16-year-old adolescent male, its diagnosis and further management. (C) 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel