Intradural extramedullary spinal choristoma: A case report

Abstract

Rationale: A choristoma is a rare and benign neoplasm characterized by the presence of normal tissue in an anomalous anatomical location. In contrast, choristoma tend to occur in other body regions rather than within the spinal canal. Before our findings, only 4 cases of intraspinal choristoma had been recorded. Because its composition is complex and very rare, routine examinations, such as magnetic resonance imaging, are difficult to diagnose, and the possibility of its occurrence is often missed in clinical diagnosis. If there is no specificity in its components, such as in this case, even pathological examinations can only confirm the diagnosis as choristoma after eliminating other possibilities. Therefore, in clinical practice, when encountering patients with intraspinal tumors, it is essential to consider the possibility of choristoma. In this case, the choristoma lack of specific constituent composition sets it apart from previously reported intraspinal choristoma, significantly raising the diagnostic challenge, which offers valuable insights for clinical diagnosis.

Patient concerns: A female patient aged 48 years was admitted to our medical center due to experiencing persistent lower back pain accompanied by radiating pain in both legs for 5 months. Based on the findings from the neurological physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging, the patient was diagnosed with an intradural space-occupying lesion located at the level of the first lumbar vertebral body. We performed an enhanced magnetic resonance neurography examination to further determine the positional relationship between the occupation and nerves in preparation for surgery. Postoperative pathological biopsy showed that the mass was an intraspinal choristoma.

Diagnosis: Intradural extramedullary spinal choristoma.

Intervention: Occupied lesion is removed surgically.

Outcomes: After surgery, all symptoms were significantly relieved, and when the patient was discharged, all symptoms disappeared completely. There was no sign of recurrence after 1 year of follow-up.

Lessons: Intraspinal choristomas are not specific and need to be diagnosed by pathologic examination. Early detection of and intervention for intraspinal tumors can mitigate nerve dysfunction.