Metastatic spinal cord compression as the first sign of malignancy.

ABSTRACT: Background and purpose - Metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) as the initial manifestation of malignancy (IMM) limits the time for diagnostic workup; most often, treatment is required before the final primary tumor diagnosis. We evaluated neurological outcome, complications, survival, and the manner of diagnosing the primary tumor in patients who were operated for MSCC as the IMM. Patients and methods - Records of 69 consecutive patients (51 men) who underwent surgery for MSCC as the IMM were reviewed. The patients had no history of cancer when they presented with pain (n = 2) and/or neurological symptoms (n = 67). Results - The primary tumor was identified in 59 patients. In 10 patients, no specific diagnosis could be established, and they were therefore defined as having cancer of u

SUBMITTER: Wanman J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5499341 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature