Journal de la colonne vertébrale

Diagnosis and Treatment of Paragangliomas of the Filum Terminale, an Extremely Rare Entity: Personal Experience and Literature Review

Abstract

Landi A, Mancarella C, Marotta N, Tarantino R, Lenzi J, Anichini G, Santoro A and Delfini R

Background: Paragangliomas of the filum terminale are very rare tumors. Those are benign lesions and do not produce catecholamines, show male predominance and rarely metastasize. Total surgical resection is usually curative. We reviewed available literature in this respect and show our experience.

Methods: Studies on paragangliomas of the filum terminale reported in the English literature were analyzed to date. The references of each article were analyzed and classified according to the following criteria: age, sex, first symptoms, treatment, and outcome.

Results: Paragangliomas of the filum terminale are rare benign tumors. To the best of our knowledge, in the English-language literature, only 36 previous cases of paraganglioma of the filum terminale have been reported to date. Reports of familiar occurrence and association with leiomyosarcomas, chordomas or pituitary adenomas suggest a genetic basis for the tumor. As we can see in the literature the reported mean age at presentation is 49.8 years. The most common presenting symptoms are low back pain associated occasionally with sciatic pain.

Conclusion: The aim of surgery is total resection that is usually curative. In cases of incomplete removal long-term follow-up is essential.