n_spinalcordcomp
Table of Contents
acute spinal cord compression
see also:
Acute spinal cord compression:
common tumours:
- breast carcinoma
- lung carcinoma
- NHL & Hodgkin's lymphoma
- multiple myeloma
- prostate carcinoma
summary:
- 65% thoracic, 20% lumbosacral spine, 15% cervical
- May be first sign of neoplasm/ complicate pre-existing disease
- Result from bleeding, infection, fracture
- > 95 % long Hx (weeks ⇒ months) of back pain prior to Dx/other symptoms
- minimal weakness may ⇒ profound, irreversible weakness over hrs ⇒ rapid Rx
- myelopathy symptoms and signs are late findings
- ⇒ once present, neurological deterioration increasingly rapidly
symptoms:
- continuous, localised back pain, progressive in severity and duration
- pain requiring analgesia
- +/- radicular (bilateral with thoracic spine) as nerve root compressed
- NB: lymphoma deposits may be painless
- myelopathy:
- weakness ⇒ complete paralysis
- decreased sensation
- urinary retention
- difficulty walking
signs:
- may be subtle/ absent (does not exclude significant SC compression)
- localised spinal tenderness on percussion
- sensory level
- symmetrical weakness + hyporeflexia (very early)
- spasticity + hyperreflexia (later)
- decreased rectal sphincter tone
- abnormal gait
general exam:
- looking for evidence of the primary tumour
investigations:
- plain Xrays:
- show evidence of tumour in 90% of vertebral metastases but now largely replaced by MRI scanning
- any patient with unexplained persistent, progressive back pain of > 1 month duration, especially if > 50 years of age, known malignancy, persistent, progressive back/neck pain
- emergent MRI or, if MRI not available, CT myelogram
management:
- high dose corticosteroids ⇒ IV dexamethasone ? dose 4mg- 20mg
- immediate neurosurgical consultation
- radiotherapy is definitive treatment for most
- surgical laminectomy and decompression if: architectural instability, tissue confirmation required, max. XRT given, tumor radio-resistant
References
n_spinalcordcomp.txt · Last modified: 2018/09/24 13:21 by 127.0.0.1