Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Vertebral hemangioma (VH) is the most common angiomatous tumor usually asymptomatic and is incidentally noticed on MRI. The incidence of VH is rare in the pediatric population. The extraosseous extension is termed an Aggressive Vertebral Hemangioma (AVH) and these often need surgical management. Intraoperative stereotactic navigation for tumor excision helps in planning- localizing the tumor and delineating its margins. CASE PRESENTATION: A 14-year-old boy presented with thoracic myelopathy signs. The MRI scan suggests T1 and T2 hyperintense signals within the T6 vertebral body with extramedullary extradural space occupying the lesion. The CT scan showed a "polka dot" appearance. Preoperative endovascular embolization followed by surgical decompression with posterior instrumented stabilization under O-arm navigation and tumor excision was planned. Cystic extradural lesion excised and vertebroplasty done at T6 level. Histopathology slides confirmed hemangioma. DISCUSSION: The most common age of involvement is between 30 and 70 years it is rarely seen in the pediatric age group. To the best of our knowledge, fewer than 20 cases of pediatric aggressive vertebral hemangiomas have been reported. Based on a review of pediatric AVH only 4 patients have been treated with preoperative vascular embolization followed by surgical decompression and stabilization. O-arm navigated AVH excision and vertebroplasty has never been described in the literature; this being the first case. It also aids in the identification of tumor margins along with real-time monitoring of adequate resection.