title: Diagnosis and management of malignant spinal cord compression: part 1.
abstract: Malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) is a particularly challenging area of cancer care where early diagnosis and expert multidisciplinary care and rehabilitation are paramount in optimising quality of life for the affected individual. The effects of MSCC can range from minor sensory, motor and autonomic changes to severe pain and complete paralysis that significantly affects the remainder of a patient's quality of life. When caught early, the symptoms of MSCC can be prevented, minimised or possibly reversed. However, failure to recognise the condition and its serious nature, together with limited awareness of the importance of early referral for treatment, can result in irreversible paralysis. Therefore, it is essential that nurses providing clinical care for these at-risk patients are able to identify early symptoms, and undertake a thorough patient history and examination, educating the patient and their family about the signs and symptoms, which should be reported as soon as they occur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, King's College Hospital, London, UK. L.Drudge-Coates@kingsch.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Drudge-Coates
authors.forename: Krishnamoorthy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rajbabu
mesh_terms: D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008487:Medical History Taking; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*