Extradural spinal schwannoma in a 5 year old non NF child: A rare entity

Abstract

Pediatric spinal schwannomas constitute 2.5-4% of all pediatric spinal tumors. They often occur in the setting of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF-2) and are almost always intradural (with/without dumbbell extension). Rarely are they confined to extradural space alone. Till date only one case of totally extradural lumbosacral schwannoma in a non NF child has been reported. We here report the second case of totally extradural spinal schwannoma in a non NF child. A five year old female child presented with progressively increasing paraperesis and bladder symptoms, with no clinical features of Neurofibromatosis type I or II. Imaging revealed a dorsolumbar extradural lesion from DV11 to LV1. Patient underwent laminoplasty with total excision of tumour. Intraoperatively, the tumor was confined to extradural space alone. Histopathology confirmed Schwannoma. This case highlights that possibility of schwannomas should be considered as a differential diagnosis for intraspinal extradural tumors even in children without NF.