Anatomy of masses that compress the spinal cord
- 1. Extramedullary extradural lesions (outside the spinal cord and outside its dural covering). Such lesions include the following:
- • Epidural metastases from a remote primary neoplasm
- • Epidural abscess
- • Epidural hematoma
- • Herniated disc
- 2. Extramedullary intradural lesions (outside the spinal cord but inside its dural covering). Such lesions include:
- • Neurofibroma and schwannoma
- • Meningioma
- 3. Intramedullary intradural lesions (inside the cord itself). Such lesions include the following:
- • Primary cord neoplasms
- • Syringomyelia
- • Metastasis or abscess within the substance of the cord (rare)
