Vertebral hemangioma presenting with intermittent claudication

Abstract

The case of a patient with vertebral hemangioma and unusual clinical presentation is reported, with an attempt to explain these unusual clinical complaints. Vertebral hemangioma is a common and often asymptomatic tumor. Neurologic symptoms may appear due to pressure on the neural tissue caused by extraosseous extension. The patient reported here presented with intermittent claudication. Conventional radiography CT, and MRI revealed vertebral hemangioma at T5 and extraosseous extension compressing the spinal cord. Gravity-related vascular dilatation may induce further compression of the spinal cord and, thus, is thought to be the underlying event in the induction of the intermittent clinical symptoms. The lesion was treated with subtotal corpectomy after embolization and fusion with a strut iliac crest graft. At the 9-month follow-up, the patient was without complaints. We conclude that a diagnosis of vertebral hemangioma should be considered in cases of intermittent neurologic symptoms of the lower extremities.