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Spinal manifestation of metastasizing leiomyosarcoma
K Nanassis1, C Alexiadou-Rudolf, P Tsitsopoulos
1Neurosurgical Clinic, Hippocrateion University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Study Design:
Case report.
Objective:
To provide additional information on possible relations between uterine and spinal manifestations of leiomyosarcoma.
Summary Of Background Data:
Spinal metastases and primary spinal manifestation of leiomyosarcoma and other malignant smooth muscle tumors are rarely observed.
Methods:
Clinical and radiologic follow-up of a patient with a spinal tumor.
Results:
A 46-year-old women had rapidly progressive paraplegia caused by an extramedullary lesion in the extradural space at T2-T3, with spinal cord compression. After surgical decompression, the resected tumor was histologically classified as a leiomyosarcoma. Diagnostic work-up failed to detect the primary tumor site. Previous medical history had been uneventful except for hysterectomy 3 years earlier for a leiomyoma. Extended necroses and focal metaplasia were already described in the hysterectomy specimen indicating malignant disease; however, it was not definitely diagnosed. Multiple leiomyosarcoma metastases developed 22 months later.
Conclusions:
In retrospect, the origin of the leiomyosarcoma that manifested in the thoracic spine of the patient must be reconsidered. Rather than a primary dural leiomyosarcoma, this tumor represented the first evidence of recurrence of a missed diagnosis of early-stage uterine leiomyosarcoma.