title: Paraplegia and quadriplegia in the elderly due to spinal cord lesions: association with malignancy.
abstract: A retrospective study showed that paraplegia and quadriplegia due to spinal cord lesions occurred with a frequency of 1 in 500 admissions to a geriatric department. These cases predominantly were caused by malignant disease, particularly of the bronchus. However, elderly patients presenting to other hospital departments included a far higher proportion of cases with benign causes, particularly cervical spondylosis which affects patients of lower average age. Male patients predominated in both malignant and benign categories.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012744:Sex Ratio; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000150:complications