title: Cauda equina compression in breast cancer--incidence and treatment outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence and treatment outcome of compression of the cauda equina by metastatic disease in patients with breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer at a single institution during a 16-year period was undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1,283 patients studied, 15 (1.2%) developed cauda equina syndrome from metastatic disease. The median survival was eight months; ten (67%) survived for at least six months. Among the evaluable patients, pain was completely relieved in eight of ten women; complete resolution of neurologic deficits was observed in five of nine patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metastatic breast cancer compression of the cauda equina and long-term survival of patients are infrequent occurrences. Beneficial responses can be mediated by radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Louisiana 71130, USA.
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Ampil
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jawahar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pelser
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002420:Cauda Equina; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D010166:Palliative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate