Recurrent IgG4-Related Meningeal Disease of the Cervicothoracic Spine: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

IgG4-related disease is a rare, recently recognized chronic inflammatory disease. IgG4-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IgG4-RHP) of the central nervous system predominantly involves the cranial meninges. Spinal involvement remains rare.We report a case of recurrent cervicothoracic IgG4-RHP and review the surgical literature.A 35-year-old woman presented with a 6-month history of neck and right shoulder pain, progressive right triceps weakness and paresthesias in the right C8 and T1 dermatomes. MRI demonstrated a T2 hypointense epidural soft tissue mass extending from C6-T1. The patient underwent C6-T1 laminoforaminotomy and partial resection with near complete symptom resolution. Histopathology was consistent with diagnosis of IgG4-RHP. Eighteen months postoperatively, she experienced symptom recurrence necessitating re-operation and adjuvant postoperative prednisone with complete resolution at 40-months' follow-up.Of the now nineteen confirmed cases of IgG4-RHP, fifteen underwent surgery. A majority achieved partial resection. Three surgical patients did not receive adjuvant therapy with symptomatic recurrence between 2 and 18 months.