Paralysis due to Spinal Cord Tumor Found during the Management of Postherpetic Neuralgia

Herpes zoster results from a reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus in the dorsal root ganglia, and is frequently associated with severe pain. The pain of herpes zoster gradually resolves with time, but may persist after the acute disease as postherpetic neuralgia for weeks, months, or even years. Postherpetic neuralgia is difficult to manage and, unfortunately, is refractory to most treatment modalities. A 68-year old female patient with polyneuropathy as a result of diabetic complications, had been controlled for blood sugar level with an oral hypoglycemic agent for 5 years. She had also has suffered from postherpetic neuralgia on 7th thoracic dermatome of her right flank area for 4 months. We report a spinal cord tumor revealed during an evaluation of lower extremity weakness after thoracic epidural block for the management of postherpetic neuralgia.