Completely ossified thoracic intradural meningioma in an elderly patient: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE Spinal meningioma is the second most common spinal neoplasm that commonly occurs in middle-aged women. As a rare histological variation of meningioma, completely ossified meningioma (OSM) and its standard surgical strategies have been reported. However, the surgical outcomes of elderly OSM cases (age >70) are less investigated. Herein, we intend to present an elderly OSM case and review the elderly OSM cases in published literatures. PATIENT CONCERNS An 85-year-old female presented with 10-year history of back pain and developed radiating pain on her left lower extremity within the last 2 weeks. DIAGNOSES A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed an intradural tumor at the T11 level. A computed tomography scan demonstrated that the mass was completely ossified and had distinct borders (D-F). In a dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging scan, the mass presented as a lateral intradural extramedullary tumor with abundant blood supply (). INTERVENTIONS The patient underwent en bloc intradural tumorectomy via posterior approach. OUTCOMES After surgery, the patient's pain was relieved. However, the patient spent another 3 weeks in hospital due to a series of post-surgery complications, including hypostatic pneumonia, pulmonary heart failure, hydrothorax in both thoracic cavities, hypoproteinemia, and deep venous thrombosis on both of her legs. The complications recovered after 3-weeks treatment. In 1-year follow up, no additional symptom was found and the patient was recurrence free. LESSONS Our report indicated that the surgical outcome can be satisfying in elderly OSM patients, while the post-operative complications frequently occur due to the poor physical condition of elderly patients. As a result, treatment of peri-operative complications of elderly OSM patients also deserves greater attention along with surgical resection.