{"id":"93a26c9f-34cb-41b3-afbf-00e62fd89c55","slug":"thoracic-dumbbell-spinal-chordoma-mimicking-a-schwannoma","title":"Thoracic dumbbell spinal chordoma mimicking a schwannoma","authors":["Roberta Costanzo","Gianluca Scalia","Salvatore Marrone","Giuseppe Emmanuele Umana","Francesca Graziano","Massimo Furnari","Giancarlo Ponzo","Massimiliano Giuffrida","Domenico Gerardo Iacopino","Giovanni Federico Nicoletti"],"abstract":"Background: Epidural dumbbell-shaped chordomas are localized slow growing, and malignant/aggressive neoplasms. Here, we present a 62-year-old male with a T3-T4 dumbbell-shaped chordoma and reviewed the appropriate literature. Case Description: A 62-year-old male presented with a three-month history of thoracic pain. When the thoracolumbar magnetic resonance (MR) showed a T3-T4 dumbbell-shaped intracanalicular/extradural tumor, he underwent tumor removal. After the histological examination proved the lesion was a spinal chordoma, he underwent a secondary radical transthoracic tumor resection. Postoperatively, the patient was able to walk without assistance, and at 6-month follow-up, was neurologically intact with only residual paresthesias. Conclusion: Malignant spinal chordomas may mimic benign neurinomas on MR scans. Here, biopsy of the lesion to confirm the diagnosis of chordoma was critical and directed subsequent definitive transthoracic tumor resection.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/93a26c9f-34cb-41b3-afbf-00e62fd89c55/featured/hero-1781562011131.png","publishDate":"2021-09-30T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_838_2021","categories":["Spine","Case Report"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/11130/SNI-12-497.pdf"}