title: Neoplastic myelopathy.
abstract: Neoplastic myelopathy may be due to external compression or to direct intraparenchymal involvement of the spinal cord. In this review, the authors discuss the most common cause for compressive neoplastic myelopathy, metastatic disease. They also review other compressive lesions and discuss primary intramedullary spinal tumors. In the acute setting, compressive metastatic disease should be treated with high-dose steroids when clinically necessary; surgery should be considered for selected patients, followed by radiation therapy. For most primary intramedullary spinal tumors, surgical resection remains the standard initial therapy. Patients with incomplete resection of infiltrative tumors, high-grade pathology, or recurrent tumors may benefit from radiation, but most spinal tumors are relatively insensitive to traditional chemotherapy. Neoplastic myelopathy from either compressive or intraparenchymal causes remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In complex cases, referral to a specialty center with access to neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, neuropathologists, and neurooncologists is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuro-oncology, Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagpal
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D024221:Antineoplastic Protocols / Q000592:standards; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*