title: Extraosseous epidural multiple myeloma presenting with thoracic spine compression.
abstract: Multiple myeloma is a hematopoetic disorder and multicentric disease, with the most common localisation being the spine. A 47-year-old male presented with progressive paraplegia, superficial and deep sensory disturbance below the level of T4. Spinal magnetic resonance image showed an epidural mass compressing the spinal cord at the level of T4-T6 with intact bone structure. The patient underwent surgical T4-T6 posterior spinal decompression. Microscopic examination and immunohistochemical studies confirmed the diagnosis of multiple myeloma of kappa subtype. Immunoelectrophoresis revealed the presence of immunoglobulin G kappa. The patient was subsequently started on steroids and chemotherapy for myeloma. Extraosseous epidural tumors causing compression myelopathy without evidence of destruction or collapse of vertebral bodies are relatively rare; to our knowledge only four cases have been reported in English literature.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Mohammed V Military Hospital, 282 hay el menzeh, CYM, Rabat, Morocco. oukacha_naama@caramail.com
authors: Naama
authors: N
authors: Okacha
authors: Elasri
authors: E
authors: Chrif
authors: Elmostarchid
authors: E
authors: Brahim
authors: Akhaddar
authors: A
authors: Ali
authors: Elbouzidi
authors: E
authors: Abderrahman
authors: Miloudi
authors: M
authors: Gazzaz
authors: Belhachmi
authors: B
authors: Adil
authors: Kadiri
authors: K
authors: Bouchaib
authors: Boucetta
authors: B
authors: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G