Spinal cord compression, infection, and unknown primary cancers.
The management of a patient with spinal cord compression can be complicated and challenging; however, this challenge becomes even more pronounced if the patient presents without a known cancer diagnosis in the context of progressive neurologic symptoms. Unless potential causes such as infection/tuberculosis are included in the differential diagnosis of an apparent unknown primary, then the correct diagnosis may be incorrectly determined.
Dahlbeck
S
S
Department of Radiation Oncology, Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA.
Kagan
A R
AR
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000150:complications*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000556:secondary*; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000150:complications*