Spinal Cord Compression Caused by Fibroblastic Reticular Cell Tumor (FRCT) Originating from Thoracic Spine

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Hematology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Fibroblastic reticular cell tumors (FRCTs) are exceedingly rare hematologic malignancies, representing a subset of dendritic cell tumors.
• FRCTs typically exhibit low-grade sarcoma-like behavior rather than aggressive malignant characteristics.

Observation:

• A 45-year-old female presented with flu-like symptoms and progressive lower limb imbalance.
• Spinal MRI revealed an extradural lesion at T3/4 causing significant spinal cord compression.
• Initial diagnosis was metastatic spinal cord compression, necessitating decompressive laminectomy and debulking.

Findings:

• Histopathological analysis confirmed a primary FRCT originating from the spine.
• The tumor lacked aggressive features, correlating with a favorable prognosis.
• Postoperative recovery was uneventful with full functional recovery after adjuvant radiotherapy.

Implications:

• This case represents the first documented instance of an FRCT causing spinal cord compression.
• It underscores the importance of considering rare primary tumors in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord compression.
• The successful management highlights surgical intervention and radiotherapy as effective treatment modalities for spinal FRCT.