title: Asymptomatic isolated coccygeal metastasis in low rectal carcinoma.
abstract: As well as being relatively rare, osseous metastases from colorectal cancer are frequently asymptomatic and represent a late manifestation of disease. We report a case of an unidentified, asymptomatic coccygeal metastasis discovered on histological processing of the resection specimen from a patient with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by radical abdomino-perineal resection with coccygectomy. The anatomical explanation for this finding may involve passage of tumour cells via the vertebral venous plexus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK. parkstewart@aol.com
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kitsanta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hampton
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shorthouse
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D003050:Coccyx / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*