Froin's Syndrome due to Spinal Paraganglioma - A Case Report

Yellow coloured, i.e. xanthochromic cerebrospinal fluid, with hypercoagulability and high protein con- tent is pathognomic of Froin's syndrome. We present a case of Froin's syndrome in a patient with spinal paraganglioma. A 55-year-old male patient presented with urinary hesitancy, numbness in lower limbs and difficulty in walking. During spinal anaesthesia, the anaesthetist noticed xanthochromic spinal fluid. Upon mag- netic resonance imaging lumbosacral, an intradural focal lesion of abnormal signal intensity extend- ing from T12-L1 vertebral level was seen. Laminectomy with excision of the mass was performed and a fleshy encapsulated mass was excised. Histopathology report showed the specimen to be a neoplastic lesion, and immuno-histochemical studies confirmed the mass to be a paraganglioma. This case emphasizes that in case of Froin's syndrome, one should think of spinal cord tumours while evaluating the patient. A magnetic resonance imaging of the spine should also be done to look for spinal pathology along with other investigations.