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. 2015 Apr;77(Suppl 1):75-6.
doi: 10.1007/s12262-014-1143-1. Epub 2014 Jul 23.

Intracranial metastasis of adenocarcinoma of the prostate presenting with symptoms of spinal cord compression

Rachael Hutton  1 , John Maguire  1 , Tarik Amer  1 , John Fitzpatrick  1 , Rami Hasan  1 , Mark Ablett  1 , Robert Meddings  1
Affiliations

Intracranial metastasis of adenocarcinoma of the prostate presenting with symptoms of spinal cord compression

Rachael Hutton et al. Indian J Surg. 2015 Apr.

Abstract

Spinal cord compression is a not uncommon complication of metastatic prostate cancer. Intracranial metastasis of prostatic adenocarcinoma is however unusual. We report a case of a 67-year-old man with metastatic prostate carcinoma, who presented with a 3-day history of lower limb weakness and collapse. Neurological assessment demonstrated increased tone and reduced power in both legs. As he had typical signs and symptoms of spinal cord compression, an MRI of the spine was performed; this demonstrated no evidence of cord compression. A subsequent CT of the brain demonstrated an extensive parafalcine metastasis. This revealed an extensive enhancing mass extending bilaterally along almost the entire length of the falx cerebri, measuring up to 3 cm in width and associated with marked white matter oedema in the adjacent brain bilaterally. Unfortunately, this man succumbed to his illness a few days later. The imaging findings are presented and highlight the importance of brain imaging in patients presenting with suspected cord compression due to prostatic metastatic disease when MR of the spine shows no evidence of cord compression.

Keywords: Intracranial metastases; Oncology; Prostate cancer; Spinal cord compression.

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Figures

Fig.1
Fig.1
Axial (left) and coronal (right) CT images through the brain showing the irregular parafalcine mass (black arrows) along the falx cerebri with considerable mass effect and adjacent white matter oedema (white arrows)
Fig.2
Fig.2
Images from a normal subject for comparison
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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