[Spinal cord metastasis: an uncommon location. Experience in 2 cases].
Spinal cord metastases are an uncommon secondary location of a malignant neoplasm. They are rarely diagnosed during life and when that is the case, it is in the clinical setting of a disseminated cancer and very seldom as the first clinical manifestation. We report two patients, with no previous disease, who developed a progressive myelopathy. An intramedullary spinal cord tumor was diagnosed, based on the clinical picture and imaging studies. They were operated and biopsies showed spinal cord metastases whose primary tumor was a lung neoplasm. We discuss the clinical features in these patients, the diagnosis of progressive myelopathy in cancer patients, treatment and prognosis of this unusual secondary cancer location.
Torrealba
G
G
Departamentos de Neurocirugía y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. gtorrealba@mi-mail.cl
Del Villar
S
S
Barzallo
C
C
Gerjman
R
R
Yánez
L
L
D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*