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BMJ Case Reports 2009; doi:10.1136/bcr.07.2008.0561
  • Unusual presentation of more common disease/injury

Extra-adrenal paravertebral myelolipoma mimicking a thoracic schwannoma

  1. Jens Schittenhelm1,
  2. Simon N Jacob2,
  3. Joanna Rutczynska3,
  4. Ilias Tsiflikas4,
  5. Richard Meyermann5,
  6. Rudi Beschorner5
  1. 1
    University of Tuebingen, Calwer Str. 3, Tübingen 72076, Germany
  2. 2
    Department of Neurology, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany
  3. 3
    Department of Pathology, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany
  4. 4
    Department of Radiology, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany
  5. 5
    Institute of Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany
  1. Jens Schittenhelm, jens.schittenhelm{at}med.uni-tuebingen.de
  • Published 5 March 2009

Summary

Myelolipoma of the adrenal gland is composed of both adipose tissue and normal haematopoietic elements. Extra-adrenal myelolipomas are rare. We present the case of a 63-year-old female patient with adenoma of the adrenal gland and an additional paravertebral lesion in the thoracic spine. Previous computed tomography of the lesion covering the nerve roots in the right T8–T9 foramina was compatible with a schwannoma. Post-mortem histopathology showed the incidental finding of a paravertebral myelolipoma.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none.

  • Patient consent: Patient/guardian consent was obtained for publication.

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