Spinal metastases as the cause of acute and sub-acute transverse spinal cord paralysis

Abstract

Over a period of 10 years (1969–1978), 105 patients with spinal metastases were operated. In 2/3 of the cases, the primary tumour was known (preponderant were bronchial carcinoma, mammary carcinoma, hypernephroma and plasmocytoma) and in 1/3 unknown. The preferred metastasis sites were the thoracic spine and thoraco-lumbar transition zone.