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Updated: May 9, 2026

Posterior Approach for Debridement of the Psoas Abscess

Posterior Approach for Debridement of the Psoas Abscess

Published on: March 2, 2020

[A case of malignant psoas syndrome diagnosed while treating sciatica].

Shuji Komatsu¹, Masako Iseki, Yoshihito Morita

¹Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8431.

Masui. the Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology

|August 3, 2013

Summary

Malignant psoas syndrome, a rare cancer metastasis, should be considered in patients with prior cancer history experiencing lower back and leg pain. This condition requires careful evaluation alongside spinal metastasis for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

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Posterior Approach for Debridement of the Psoas Abscess

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Surgical Approach and Complications of Stand-alone Lateral Trans-Psoas Interbody Fusion

Surgical Approach and Complications of Stand-alone Lateral Trans-Psoas Interbody Fusion

Published on: February 14, 2025

Area of Science:

Oncology
Pain Medicine
Radiology

Background:

Sciatica due to spinal canal stenosis is a common cause of lower back and lower limb pain.
Metastatic disease is a potential cause of pain in cancer patients.

Observation:

A 71-year-old male with prior rectal cancer, treated for sciatica, experienced persistent pain and limited mobility despite an epidural block.
Initial investigations ruled out lumbar vertebral bone metastasis.

Findings:

A CT scan revealed metastasis to the psoas muscle as the cause of the patient's refractory pain.
This finding suggests a previously unrecognized source of pain in this patient.

Implications:

Malignant psoas syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis for lower back and lower limb pain in patients with a history of cancer.
This expands the diagnostic considerations beyond vertebral metastasis for similar presentations.
Early identification of psoas metastasis can lead to more effective pain management strategies.