title: [Medullary compression in metastatic cancer].
abstract: Cancer patients with spinal cord compression may develop irreversible neurological deficit. The clinical picture implies back pain and subsequent neurological deficit. There is always a danger of rapid deterioration of the patient's condition. If spinal cord compression is suspected, the case is an emergency. MRI should be preferred in the diagnostic work-up, and corticosteroids be administered promptly. Radiation therapy or surgical treatment should be started as soon as possible. Patient outcome is related to the degree of neurological deficit at the start of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Kreftavdeling, Regionssykehuset i Trondheim.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brenne
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaasa
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Falkmer
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Skaanes
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Husby
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Myhr
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nilsen
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Bovim
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Telhaug
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids