Primary Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Lumbar Spine: Rare Tumor Mimicking Nerve Sheath Tumor of the Spine

Neuroendocrine tumors (Carcinoid tumors) generally arise from enterochromaffin cells of gut and bronchi. Primary carcinoid tumors of spine are extremely rare and have been described in sacrum and coccyx. Primary carcinoid tumors involving the spinal cord are still rarer, and review of literature revealed only two cases reported. Our patient a 39-year-old male had diagnosed as a case of nerve sheath tumor (intradural extramedullary) at LV4 region on neuroimaging. However, postoperatively, the tumor turned out to be a rare primary spinal carcinoid tumor on histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining. Work up to rule out any other site in the body was negative. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of primary carcinoid tumor of the lumbar spine.