Complete paraplegia with diffuse osteolytic skeletal metastases: an uncommon presentation of carcinoma of the...

Skeletal metastases of advanced prostatic cancer are usually osteoblastic in appearance. Osteolytic secondaries are an uncommon entity. In such scenarios, it is important to differentiate prostatic metastases from other pathologies which give an identical radiological appearance, such as multiple myeloma. Another important point to remember is that neurological complications secondary to prostatic metastases are quite uncommon.

We describe a man with advanced prostatic carcinoma who presented to us with an uncommon combination of sudden onset complete paraplegia associated with diminished sensation in the lower half of the body and diffuse osteolytic lesions in the entire skeletal system. On detailed workup, it was found that his prostatic specific antigen (PSA) was grossly elevated. Markers for multiple myeloma were negative. Accordingly, computerized tomography of the abdomen was performed. The latter revealed an enlarged prostate gland infiltrating into the bladder base. Histopathological analysis from the prostate as well as the bone marrow showed an identical picture thereby confirming our diagnosis. The individual underwent palliative spinal canal decompression following which he was put on anti-androgenic treatment. At one year follow up, he was ambulatory and able to walk with use of crutches.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of osteolytic prostatic metastases presenting as complete paraplegia. In this situation, in addition to evaluation for prostate CA, we also recommend screening for multiple myeloma as the clinico-radiological profile of the two diseases are similar but their management is very different.