Plexiform neurofibroma of the cauda equina with follow-up of 10 years: A case report

Table 1 The main characteristics of previouly pubished cauda equina plexiform neurofibroma cases

Patient	Localization	Complaints	Medical history	Treatment and outcome
44-year-old male[5]	L3–L4	Exacerbation of chronic lower back pain and bilateral leg pain	None of the stigmata of neurofibromatosis	Surgical treatment: laminectomy, resection of the tumor
59-year-old male[6]	N/A	Progressive weakness in the lower limbs that began in infancy	Long-term follow-up presenting as peroneal muscle atrophy. His parents were first cousins	Died before the surgery because of respiratory insufficiency. Presence of ectopic motor neurons
65-year-old male[7]	L3–L4	Continuous severe lower back pain radiating into both L5 segments for several months	Suffered 20 years from pain and hypesthesia in the lumbar region and both legs. Slowly progressive atrophy of the crural muscles for 10 years	Surgical treatment: complete laminectomy of L3 through L4. Complete recovery from pain and gradual improvement in neurological signs
20-year-old male[8]	L1–5, S1–3	Right-sided foot drop, gait abnormality, bladder dysfunction	NF-2 positive, bilateral schwannomas, peripheral nerve involvement	Surgical treatment
28-year-old male[9]	L4–L5	Low back pain and bilateral radicular pain of lower extremities for the preceding 5 years	Unremarkable medical history. None of the stigmata of NF	Surgical treatment. Metaplastic ossification of the lesion. The patient was symptom-free within the first year after the surgery, when he again developed lower back pain
56-year-old male[10]	L1–L2	Urinary retention and saddle anesthesia	None of the stigmata of neurofibromatosis. After an episode of poliomyelitis at the age of 10 had muscle atrophy, severe motor disturbance, and mild sensory disturbance of the left leg	After surgery returned to his previous condition
4-year-old boy[11]	L3- sacrum	8-month history of severe lower back pain that radiated bilaterally into the L4–5 distribution. The results of a neurological examination were normal	No family history of NF. Incidental thoracic-level dermal sinus	Surgical treatment: spinous processes and laminae were exposed from L2 to L5, en bloc laminectomy and laminoplasty. The dissection of the tumor was abandoned to avoid neurological compromise. After the operation, the patient still experienced significant pain, so radiotherapy was administered to control the tumour and relieve his pain

NF: neurofibromatosis.