Malignant Schwannoma of Cauda Equina: A Case Report of 4-year-old Boy

Abstract

A case of malignant schwannoma arising in the cauda equina is presented. The patient was a 4-year-old boy who began to experience pain in the left popliteal fossa without a clear cause. Spinal neoplasm was suspected after MRI and urinary dysfunction deteriorated. We performed immediate tumor resection. The space occupying lesion in the lumbar canal was diagnosed as malignant schwannoma of cauda equina histologically. Though he underwent chemotherapy after surgery, the tumor recurred seven months later. Adjuvant radiation therapy was performed, and although the size of the lesion reduced in MRI, additional metastatic lesion was found in the thoracic spine and brain. Although malignant schwannoma of cauda equina is very rare in childhood, spine surgeons should pay attention to this pathology because of the difficulty involved in treating it.