Description
This shows the vertebral column in the mid-thoracic area; towards the centre of the specimen there
is an exostosis, pyramidal in outline, measuring approximately 1.5 cm. across the base, and covered
by dura.
History
This woman presented some two years before death with a history of paraesthesiae in the
right foot on walking; these had gradually spread up her leg and developed into a gripping, stabbing,
burning pain passing up to the right buttock. The pain was constant below the knee, but intermittent
above it. The inner three toes had been mainly involved. This had begun quite suddenly one night.
For some time the pain had been worse on coughing or sneezing but, a few weeks before admission,
it had become worse on deep breathing. At about this time she was found to have dullness to
pinprick from the right tenth thoracic segment down, and the possibility of disseminated sclerosis
was considered. On examination on the last admission, she was found to have a raised CSF protein.
Shortly after admission, she died suddenly and, at autopsy, she was found to have brain-stem
haemorrhages and subarachnoid haemorrhage, for which no cause was found.