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. 2020 Nov 18;7(Suppl 1):i18-i24.
doi: 10.1093/nop/npaa051. eCollection 2020 Nov.

Presentation of spinal cord and column tumors

Jared S Fridley  1 , Sohail Syed  1 , Tianyi Niu  1 , Owen P Leary  1 , Ziya L Gokaslan  1
Affiliations

Presentation of spinal cord and column tumors

Jared S Fridley et al. Neurooncol Pract. .

Abstract

Metastatic spine disease occurs in more than 10% of all cancer patients. Advances in systemic treatment for cancer has led to improved overall survival for many types of cancer, which has increased the overall incidence of spinal metastases. The most common presenting complaint of patients with spinal metastases is pain. Pain originating from spinal metastases can be oncological, mechanical, and/or neurological in nature. Early recognition of these symptoms is helpful to guide treatment and accurately gauge patient prognosis. Unfortunately, the prevalence of degenerative back pain in the general population can complicate early clinical recognition of patients with metastatic spine disease. Therefore, back pain in any patient with a history of malignancy should prompt clinicians to perform an expedited workup for metastatic disease of the spine. Diagnostic imaging and laboratory studies are part of the initial work up. Obtaining pathology via biopsy to establish tumor histology is essential to determine the appropriate treatment.

Keywords: NOMS; cancer; epidural cord compression; spine metastases; spine tumor.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CT Demonstrating Metastatic Infiltration of the T10 Vertebral Body, Including Signs of Early Endplate Collapse in A, Axial, and B, Sagittal Views
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
MRI From a 73-Year-Old Female Patient With Lung Metastases to the Thoracic Spine Who Underwent Posterior Corpectomy and Fusion at T9 to T11 for High-Grade Epidural Spinal Cord Compression A, T2-weighted axial image at T10 showing near-circumferential epidural metastatic disease compressing the spinal cord. B, T2-weighted midsagittal image showing epidural disease extending from the middle of T9 through the superior endplate of T11. C, T1-weighted postcontrast midsagittal image demonstrating enhancing epidural metastatic disease centered at the T10 vertebral body.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center NOMS framework,20 Which Defines Recommendations for Multidisciplinary Management of Spinal Metastases Based on Neurologic, Oncologic, Mechanical, and Systemic Considerations Made for Each Patient on Presentation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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