Cavernous angioma of the conus medullaris as a cause of paraplegia

Cavernous angiomas of the conus medullaris are unusual lesions, representing about 3% of all intramedullary cavernomas. Most are asymptomatic. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the best diagnostic tool for the detection. We report a case of a 74-year-old man who initially developed low back pain and numbness of the right leg and subsequently paraplegia, ASIA impairment scale 'c'. MRI revealed a cavernous angioma of the conus medullaris with perilesional oedema and signs of acute bleeding. Clinical improvement was associated with changes in the MRI.