Paravertebral vascular hamartoma - radiological findings

Hamartomas are benign tumours that can occur in different organs and tissues. They consist of an abnormal increase of cells and tissues common to the organ from which they arise. When they occur in lymphatic and blood vessels they are called vascular hamartomas. These tumours are frequent in the central nervous system, giving rise to hemorrhages. The authors report a case of vascular hamartoma in the right paravertebral gutter with an intradural component that caused a spinal cord compression and paraplegia. A malignant lesion was suggested based on the clinical and radiological findings. (author)