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Lumbar Epidural Varix Causing Radicular Pain: A Case Report and Differential Diagnosis of Lumbar Cystic Lesions
Author(s) -
Im IlKyu,
Son EunSeok,
Kim Du Hwan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
pmandr
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1934-1563
pISSN - 1934-1482
DOI - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2018.04.002
Subject(s) - medicine , radicular pain , lumbar , low back pain , epidural space , varix , differential diagnosis , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology , varices , nerve root , surgery , back pain , pathology , cirrhosis , alternative medicine , gastroenterology
Lumbar epidural varices are a rare cause of radicular pain mimicking lumbar disc herniation or other cyst‐like masses including sequestrated disc herniation, facet joint synovial cyst, or perineural cyst. We report a case of a 36‐year‐old woman presenting with lumbar radicular pain caused by a lumbar epidural varix. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a cystic lesion in the ventral epidural space posterior to the right L4 body. Surgery was conducted and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of an epidural varix. Lumbar epidural varices and other lumbar cystic lesions can commonly cause radicular pain. Physicians will benefit from increased awareness of epidural varices as a cause of lumbosacral radicular pain and the associated radiologic findings supporting differential diagnosis. In particular, careful interpretation of MRI scans may help ensure proper diagnosis of an epidural varix versus other cystic lesions. Level of Evidence V