J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2015; 76 - A045
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1566364

Lumbar Spinal Chondroma Presenting with Radiculopathy and Motor Weakness: Case Report

S. Djuraskovic 1, N. Lakicevic 1, L. J. Vujotic 2, B. Djurovic 1, L. Borovinic 1, A. Radunovic 1
  • 1Clinic for Neurosurgery, Clinical Centre of Montenegro, Montenegro, Podgorica
  • 2Clinic for neurosurgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

Introduction Chondroma is a slowly growing benign cartilaginous tumor. Chondromas of the spinal colon are very rare, especially in the lumbar region. They accounts for 2% of all spinal tumors and 2.6% of all benign tumors. Although chondromas are generally asymptomatic, they may cause neurologic deficit if they involve spinal canal.

Aim We report a rare case of spinal lumbar chondroma presenting with radiculopathy and motor weakness.

Material and Method We report a case of 64-year-old man, with progressive back pain and weakness in his left leg for 2 years. On admission, he walked independently, flexion of the left leg in the hip was weakened, patellar reflex was extinguished on the left side, and he had hypoesthesia in the left thigh (L3 hypoesthesia). X-rays of the lumbar spine did not show osteolysis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine showed contrast-enhancing mass in the spinal canal, on the level L2. EMNG showed L2 and L3 radiculopathy on the left side. We performed L3 laminectomy and total removal of the tumor. The tumor was totally extradural, attached to the vertebral body, surrounding radix L3.

Results Early postoperative course was without complications. The back pain and left leg pain were completely relieved. The histopathology was established as chondroma. After 1 year he walked independently, still have discrete left femoral numbness, and discrete left femoral weakness. Contrast-enhancing MR scan did not show residual tumor.

Conclusion Chondromas of the lumbar spine are very rare. Especially, symptomatic chondromas of the lumbar spine are very rare and only 16 cases have been reported until 2013 year. Total surgical resection is the treatment of choice, because malignant transformation may occur in chondromas. Malignant alteration of chondromas is very rare and usually seen in Ollier and Maffucci syndromes (over 50% in syndromes). After surgical resection, follow-up with serial magnetic resonance imaging is recommended.

Keywords spinal chondromas; radiculopathy; motor weakness