[Spinal cord metastases in lung cancer: a clinical review of four cases].

Abstract

We report 4 cases of spinal cord metastases of lung cancer detected by MRI. Histologically, 3 of the 4 cases were small cell carcinoma and the other was adenocarcinoma. All 3 cases of small cell carcinoma had neoplastic meningitis. MRI taken in these cases showed the multiple nodules in the cauda equina, which were seeded from brain metastases. One of them had intramedullary spinal cord metastases, which appeared as enlargement of the spinal cord or nodules in the spinal cord on MRI. Leg paralysis and incontinence progressed in all cases. The other case of adenocarcinoma had epidural spinal cord compression due to spinal metastasis. In this case irradiation and corticosteroids relieved her leg and back pain. Spinal cord metastases should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with numbness, pain or weakness in the extremities.

• Authors: Hiroomi Kuwahara, Tadaaki Yamada, Tatsuya Yuba, Kenji Kono, Shigekuni Hosogi, Shuji Osugi, Kazuhiro Nagata, Ichiro Yokomura, Yoshinobu Iwasaki
• Journal: Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai zasshi = the journal of the Japanese Respiratory Society (Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi) Vol. 43 Issue 5 Pg. 296-301 (May 2005) ISSN: 1343-3490 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 15969211 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Gadolinium DTPA

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (diagnosis, secondary)
• Aged
• Carcinoma, Small Cell (diagnosis, secondary)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Gadolinium DTPA
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (pathology)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Spinal Cord Neoplasms (diagnosis, secondary)