Intramedullary spinal cord tumor presenting as the initial manifestation of metastatic colon cancer: case report and review of the literature.
METHODS
Case reports and review of the literature.


OBJECTIVE
Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCMs) are rare type of central nervous system (CNS) involvement of systemic malignant tumors. Since the advent of new neuroradiological techniques, their detection have become increasingly diagnosed in recent years and, although somewhat controversial, surgical treatment has been considered a valid option.


METHODS
Neurosurgical Clinic, Department of Clinic Neuroscience, University of Palermo, Italy.


METHODS
The authors describe the case of a 61-year-old woman who was admitted presenting with progressive tetraplegia. Investigations revealed an intramedullary spinal cord lesion at the cervical level. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain did not reveal other CNS metastatic lesions.


RESULTS
Patient underwent surgical treatment. The tumor was resected and the patient's neurologic deficits slowly improved. Histological examination of the lesion showed the typical features of a colon carcinoma metastasis. Patient was referred for proper oncological treatment but, unfortunately, she died of disseminated disease within 2 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Although uncommon, spinal cord metastases should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ISCM in order to rationalize the decisional-making process and improve the quality of life for these patients.
Grasso
G
G
Neurosurgical Clinic, Department of Clinic Neuroscience, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Meli
F
F
Patti
R
R
Giambartino
F
F
Florena
A M
AM
Iacopino
D G
DG
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery