title: Unusual osteoblastic metastases in the spine secondary to adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
abstract: An unusual case of purely osteoblastic metastasis in the spine from adenocarcinoma of the pancreas was reported. Severe low back pain with osteoblastic lesions pictured in a lumbar X-ray study were the initial manifestations. A percutaneous transpedicular vertebral bodies biopsy was performed and showed a metastatic adenocarcinoma. This clinical presentation is unusual and the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma should be considered when radiographs or bone scans show osteoblastic bone lesions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuro-oncology, Department of Neurological Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010006:Osteoblasts; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging