Case Report
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Apr 16, 2013; 1(1): 56-58
Published online Apr 16, 2013. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v1.i1.56
Can neck swelling lead to spinal cord compression?
Emanuele Costi, Elena Roca, Fabio Spanu, Federico Nicolosi, Giovanni Nodari, Marco Fontanella, Pier Paolo Panciani
Emanuele Costi, Elena Roca, Fabio Spanu, Federico Nicolosi, Giovanni Nodari, Marco Fontanella, Pier Paolo Panciani, Department of Neuroscience, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Marco Fontanella, Pier Paolo Panciani, Department of Neuroscience, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this article.
Correspondence to: Pier Paolo Panciani, MD, Department of Neuroscience, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy. pierpaolo.panciani@gmail.com
Telephone: +39-30-3995587 Fax: +39-30-3995003
Received: January 12, 2013
Revised: March 26, 2013
Accepted: March 28, 2013
Published online: April 16, 2013
Processing time: 88 Days and 17.9 Hours
Abstract

Spinal cord compression (SCC) caused by cervical spinal canal invasion of a pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma metastasis has never been reported previously. A 59-year-old man, with a history of pulmonary carcinosarcoma, developed over several weeks important neck swelling. Admitted to our division with severe tetraparesis he underwent a cervical spine computed tomography scan that showed a large cervical mass measuring 11 cm × 27 cm × 17 cm with SCC, extending from the occiput to C7. Emergency spinal cord decompression was performed leading to minor neurological improvement. Poor outcome was due to the unusual clinical sign that led to late diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: Carcinosarcoma; Spinal cord compression; Spine surgery; Tetraparesis; Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma

Core tip: Spinal cord compression (SCC) caused by cervical spinal canal invasion of a pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma metastasis has never been reported previously. A 59-year-old man, with a history of pulmonary carcinosarcoma, developed over several weeks important neck swelling. Admitted to our division with severe tetraparesis he underwent a cervical spine computed tomography scan that showed a large cervical mass measuring 11 cm × 27 cm × 17 cm with SCC, extending from the occiput to C7. Emergency spinal cord decompression was performed leading to minor neurological improvement. Poor outcome was due to the unusual clinical sign that led to late diagnosis and treatment.