Posterior pharyngeal wall carcinoma presenting as sudden onset bilateral upper limb radiculopathy

This report describes the case of an elderly gentleman who presented with sudden onset bilateral upper limb radiculopathy and neck stiffness. On neck radiography, erosion of the fourth cervical vertebral body was seen. Further evaluation revealed the cause to be a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the posterior pharyngeal wall. In spite of prompt initiation of radiation therapy with concurrent steroids, the patient died of progressive disease within 3 weeks of initial presentation.