ABSTRACT

Cauda equina syndrome is defined as a group of symptoms including lower back pain, sciatica, saddle anesthesia, decreased rectal tone, perianal areflexia or hyporeflexia, bowel and bladder dysfunction, and lower-extremity weakness. There are several causes of this syndrome, including trauma, central disc protrusion, hemorrhage, and rarely, neoplastic invasion. In this case, we report cauda equina syndrome caused by intratumoral hemorrhage of a spinal schwannoma at the L4 level. Surgical resection of the tumor significantly improved the neurological symptoms of the patient.