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Unusual Malignant Thoracic Cystic Lesion
Mayur Sharma1, Fabian C Madrigal1, Thomas Altstadt1
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
World Neurosurgery
|April 30, 2020
Summary
Spinal malignant cystic lesions are rare. This case highlights a unique instance of a T8 vertebral body and posterior element replacement by a cystic tumor, leading to cord compression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Neurosurgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Malignant cystic lesions of the spine are exceptionally rare.
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for managing spinal cord compression.
Observation:
- A 65-year-old male presented with a 1-week history of gait imbalance.
- Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large, T2-hyperintense, expansile mass at T8, involving the vertebral body and posterior elements, causing spinal cord compression and edema.
Findings:
- The patient underwent T8 corpectomy, expandable interbody cage placement, and T5-T11 posterolateral fusion.
- Despite surgical intervention, the patient succumbed to metastatic lung cancer progression 5 months post-operatively.
Implications:
- This case represents the first reported instance of a malignant cystic lesion nearly completely replacing spinal vertebral and posterior elements.
- Understanding the behavior of rare spinal tumors is vital for surgical planning and patient outcomes.
