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.