Metastatic nerve root tumor: A case report and literature review

Nerve root metastasis of cancer has been rarely reported. We herein report the case of a cervical cancer patient with metastasis to peripheral nerve roots. A 47 year-old woman with cervical squamous cell carcinoma was admitted to our department with a 6-month history of right leg pain, and was investigated for cancer recurrence. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed lymph node metastasis near the right iliac blood vessels; the patient was then treated with chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin. However, the pain worsened and the muscle strength of her right leg decreased. On positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans, the sacral plexus L5/S1 and L4/5 nerves appeared thickened, suggesting nerve metastases. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy was applied, with notable clinical benefit. However, the patient succumbed to the disease 3 months later.