Background
Pilomyxoid astrocytoma of the spinal cord in adults (PMA) is a rare
neoplasm without definitive grade assignment in the revised WHO 2016
classification of tumors in the central nervous system. We report here a
case of an adult patient with a spinal intramedullary T6-T8 PMA, its
clinical manifestation and managment outcomes.
Case summary: The MRI of a 73 year old male patient with
paraparesis, showed an intramedullary mass at the thoracic spinal cord
extending from T6 to T8. Partial surgical removal was preformed and a
biopsy was taken, followed by postoperative radiotherapy.
Methods: Only a few adult cases of spinal PMA have been
reported. Relevant papers were selected for the literature review.
Objective: Our case shows that thoracic PMA spinal cord tumors
can occur in elderly age, even though, PMA is a predominantly pediatric
tumor, where it has been reported for the first time 20 years ago.
Conclusion: Because of its extremely rare occurrence,
especially in this age group, there is a need for treatment guidelines
that take into consideration the tumor features and occurrence in old
age.
Keywords : Case report, pilomyxoid astrocytoma, thoracic spinal
cord, elderly.