Spinal cord compression in a patient with multiple hereditary exostoses caused by breast adenocarcinoma metastatic to osteochondromas of the spine: case report.
METHODS
Case report.


OBJECTIVE
To report on thoracic spinal cord compression caused by a mass in a 66-year-old female with new onset of myelopathic symptoms and a history of multiple hereditary exostoses.


BACKGROUND
To our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of spinal cord compression in a patient with multiple hereditary exostoses caused by breast adenocarcinoma metastatic to osteochondromas of the spine. METHODS.: Chart, pathologic, and radiographic documentation of the preoperative and postoperative clinical course of the patient was used.


RESULTS
The patient had resolution of her neurologic symptoms following wide surgical excision, decompression, and stabilization from T2 to T10. The patient's mass was found to be breast adenocarcinoma metastatic to osteochondromas of the spine.


CONCLUSIONS
When faced with a patient with a history of multiple hereditary exostoses with new onset of myelopathic symptoms and a mass compressing the spinal cord, the clinician's differential should be broad and always initially include a metastatic lesion, osteochondroma, or chondrosarcoma.
Pandya
Nirav K
NK
Spine Surgery and Orthopaedic Oncology Services, Department of Orthopaedics, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Auerbach
Joshua D
JD
Baldwin
Keith
K
Lackman
Richard D
RD
Chin
Kingsley R
KR
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005097:Exostoses, Multiple Hereditary / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D000068878:Trastuzumab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D016190:Carboplatin; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D017239:Paclitaxel