Primary C1-2, intradural, extramedullary meningeal sarcoma with glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactive components: a spinal gliosarcoma? Case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Journal of neurosurgery Vol. 96; no. 2 Suppl; pp. 230 - 235
• Main Authors: Barbagallo, Giuseppe M V, Lanzafame, Salvatore, Nicol, etti Giovanni F, Platania, Nunzio, Albanese, Vincenzo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-03-2002
• Subjects: Aged; Cervical Vertebrae; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein - metabolism; Gliosarcoma - diagnosis; Gliosarcoma - metabolism; Gliosarcoma - pathology; Gliosarcoma - surgery; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Meningeal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Meningeal Neoplasms - metabolism; Meningeal Neoplasms - pathology; Meningeal Neoplasms - surgery; Sarcoma - diagnosis; Sarcoma - metabolism; Sarcoma - pathology; Sarcoma - surgery
• ISSN: 0022-3085; 1547-5654
• DOI: 10.3171/spi.2002.96.2.0230

The authors report an exceedingly rare case of a patient harboring a primary, spinal, C1-2, intradural, extramedullary meningeal sarcoma in which there were glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactive components, but, importantly, no physical connection with neural tissue. On initial diagnostic imaging, neuroradiological features suggestive of a spinal meningioma were demonstrated in this 73-year-old man. He underwent a C1-2 laminectomy and removal of the posterior ring of the foramen magnum, and the lesion was excised. Histological and immunohistochemical testing showed a gliosarcoma. The clinical, radiological, and operative data are reviewed, as are the histopathological findings. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of a primary spinal intradural extramedullary gliosarcoma reported in the literature.