Background:
Spinal schwannomas are slow growing, benign nerve sheath tumors. These may be asymptomatic or may present as backache with radicular pain, slowly progressive neurological deficits, but rarely with acute spastic quadriparesis attributed to intratumoral hemorrhage.
Case description:
A 38-year-old male presented with the chief complaint of neck pain radiating to the left upper extremity for the last 8 months. On admission, he exhibited diffuse hyper-reflexia but had no motor or sensory deficit. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a solid-cystic intradural extramedullary (IDEM) C2 to C4 mass severely compressing the spinal cord. The same day the patient acutely developed a spastic quadriparesis. Immediately, a partial C2, C3, and C4 laminectomy was performed for tumor excision; within 5 postoperative days, he fully regained neurological function. The final histopathology was consistent with a "schwannoma showing areas of congestion and hemorrhage."
Conclusion:
Spinal schwannomas rarely present with intratumoral hemorrhage and acute spastic quadriparesis. Immediate operative decompression may lead to excellent postoperative neurological recovery.