Malignant melanotic schwannian tumors (MMSTs) are rare peripheral nerve sheath tumors that typically exhibit benign clinical presentation and histopathology but malignant long-term behavior. We report a case of a 22-year-old… Click to show full abstract
Malignant melanotic schwannian tumors (MMSTs) are rare peripheral nerve sheath tumors that typically exhibit benign clinical presentation and histopathology but malignant long-term behavior. We report a case of a 22-year-old male with a T9-11 MMST who presented with acute paraplegia and complete loss of sacral function. Despite emergent decompression, he did not recover motor, sensory or bladder function, although bowel function did normalize. The anatomic location and rapid presentation of permanent deficits are suggestive of infarction of the spinal cord supplied by the artery of Adamkiewicz, a rare presentation of this disorder and of spinal schwannomas in general.
               
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