Purely extradural spinal meningioma: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Purely extradural spinal meningiomas (ESMs) are exceptionally rare and are often incorrectly diagnosed as metastases, hematological malignancies, or schwannomas. Here, we report a 66-year-old female who presented with an isolated extradural ESM. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 66-year-old female presented with a 2.5-year history of a progressive paraparesis (i.e. T7 level) associated with a T5 sensory level. The MR showed a heterogeneously enhancing lesion circumferentially involving the spinal cord from T3 to T5, with left-sided T4/5 foraminal extension. Following a Simpson Grade 2 resection, the patient rapidly recovered full neurological function. CONCLUSION: The vast majority of the rarely encountered purely ESM are benign. Although gross total resection is optimal, additional adjunctive treatments are available for those treated with subtotal resections.