Intramedullary schwannoma of the upper cervical spinal cord is rarely reported in forensic medicine.We herein report a case involving a patient who died of compression from an intramedullary schwannoma in the upper ce...Intramedullary schwannoma of the upper cervical spinal cord is rarely reported in forensic medicine.We herein report a case involving a patient who died of compression from an intramedullary schwannoma in the upper cervical spinal cord.A 30-year-old man initially presented with a five-day history of pain in the left chest that progressed to weakening in the left arm.Although the patient was treated with analgesic poultices,he developed inspiratory dyspnoea and died while working the next day without having undergone any medical imaging examination or surgical treatment.Anatomical and histopathological examinations revealed an intramedullary schwannoma in the left cervical spinal cord(C_(3)-C_(5))underneath the spinal nerve root.The cause of death might have been asphyxia secondary to the tumour,which interfered with the nerve function in the respiratory muscles.This finding suggests that an autopsy is essential for pathologists and medicolegists to comprehensively undertake their due obligation to obtain“the first evidence”,especially when there is a lack of directly related evidence.As part of the central nervous system,the spinal cord could be systematically included in a routine pathological autopsy in some cases.展开更多
Schwannomas are the most common type of spinal tumor, and they most commonly occur in intradural extramedullary locations. Intramedullary schwannomas of the central nervous system are very rare and are difficult to di...Schwannomas are the most common type of spinal tumor, and they most commonly occur in intradural extramedullary locations. Intramedullary schwannomas of the central nervous system are very rare and are difficult to diagnose using preoperative imaging. Here, we report a rare, tiny cervical intramedullary schwannoma and review the literature regarding the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging, pathology,and surgical experience associated with this rare tumor type.展开更多
文摘Intramedullary schwannoma of the upper cervical spinal cord is rarely reported in forensic medicine.We herein report a case involving a patient who died of compression from an intramedullary schwannoma in the upper cervical spinal cord.A 30-year-old man initially presented with a five-day history of pain in the left chest that progressed to weakening in the left arm.Although the patient was treated with analgesic poultices,he developed inspiratory dyspnoea and died while working the next day without having undergone any medical imaging examination or surgical treatment.Anatomical and histopathological examinations revealed an intramedullary schwannoma in the left cervical spinal cord(C_(3)-C_(5))underneath the spinal nerve root.The cause of death might have been asphyxia secondary to the tumour,which interfered with the nerve function in the respiratory muscles.This finding suggests that an autopsy is essential for pathologists and medicolegists to comprehensively undertake their due obligation to obtain“the first evidence”,especially when there is a lack of directly related evidence.As part of the central nervous system,the spinal cord could be systematically included in a routine pathological autopsy in some cases.
基金Supported by the Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital Fund(No.12015C1044)
文摘Schwannomas are the most common type of spinal tumor, and they most commonly occur in intradural extramedullary locations. Intramedullary schwannomas of the central nervous system are very rare and are difficult to diagnose using preoperative imaging. Here, we report a rare, tiny cervical intramedullary schwannoma and review the literature regarding the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging, pathology,and surgical experience associated with this rare tumor type.