[Spinal metastatic tumor in a patient with tuberous sclerosis complex]

Most of the cauda equina tumors are primary tumors and metastases (especially from some tumors like renal carcinoma [RC]) are very unusual. We report a 28-yearold- man with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) who had undergone a left nephrectomy one year before for the treatment of RC. He presented with a 2-3 month history of lower back pain that radiated to both legs and weakness in lower limbs. He denied bowel and bladder symptoms. A magnetic resonance scan of the dorsolumbar spine revealed an intradural extramedullary cauda equina mass that demonstrated uniform homogeneous enhancement, which was a metastasis. Therapeutical and diagnostic aspects are discussed. We review the previous literature on this topic.