A Long-Term Control of Intramedullary Thoracic Spinal Cord Metastasis from Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Hajime Osawa,Katsunori Kagohashi,Shinichiro Okauchi,Hiroaki Satoh,Gen Ohara

doi:10.14712/18059694.2018.52

Abstract

Radiotherapy with systemic corticosteroid therapy has been used to treat intramedullary spinal cord metastasis (ISCM), but recovery of function and long-term survival of these patients has been rarely observed. We report herein a small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patient with recurrent thoracic ISCM, who was successfully treated with radiotherapy and systemic corticosteroid therapy. A 70-year-old man, who was diagnosed as having SCLC seven months previously, developed thoracic ISCM. Soon after the detection of the lesion, the patient received radiotherapy with systemic corticosteroid therapy. Sensory disturbance in both extremities and neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction was recovered. The patient could walk after irradiation again. The patient received additional chemotherapy and survived 20 months after the diagnosis of ISCM recurrence. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment for ISCM and effective chemotherapy for recurrent SCLC might be the favorable factors for such patients. Further studies will be required to define a favorable subset of patients most likely to benefit from a conventional approach.

Highlights

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis (ISCM) is a rare but dismal metastasis, and it has been reported in 0.9–2.1% of all neoplasm autopsies [1,2,3,4]
Many patients with intramedullary metastasis whose treatment is not successful suffer from these symptoms that obviously degrade the quality of life
We show a small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patient with thoracic ISCM who was successfully treated with a combination of radiotherapy, corticosteroids, and chemotherapy

Summary

Introduction

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis (ISCM) is a rare but dismal metastasis, and it has been reported in 0.9–2.1% of all neoplasm autopsies [1,2,3,4]. KEYWORDS long-term control; intramedullary spinal cord metastasis; small cell lung cancer Many patients with intramedullary metastasis whose treatment is not successful suffer from these symptoms that obviously degrade the quality of life. ISCM lacks well-defined treatment guidelines, but rapid diagnosis and appropriate treatment can improve both the quality and length of remaining life.

Results

Conclusion