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Updated: May 13, 2026
05:59
Reproducable Paraplegia by Thoracic Aortic Occlusion in a Murine Model of Spinal Cord Ischemia-reperfusion
Published on: March 3, 2014
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Aortic angiosarcoma leading to paraplegia: a case report.
1Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, China.
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
|May 14, 2025
Summary
Aortic angiosarcoma, a rare cancer, can cause embolic events. This case highlights a unique instance of spinal cord embolism, emphasizing the need to consider rare embolic sites.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Oncology
- Rare Cancers
- Embolic Phenomena
Background:
- Aortic angiosarcoma is a rare malignancy with diverse clinical presentations.
- Common initial symptoms include embolic events (limb, visceral, cerebral) or renovascular hypertension.
Observation:
- A 76-year-old female presented with a left hip soft tissue mass involving the sacrum and iliac bone.
- Aortic computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed filling defects in the aortic arch and descending aorta, indicative of tumor.
Findings:
- Biopsy confirmed angiosarcoma; immunohistochemistry was positive for Vimentin, CD31, and ERG.
- The patient was diagnosed with aortic angiosarcoma with left hip metastasis.
- She developed paraplegia and lower limb arterial embolism, leading to a rapid decline.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for aortic angiosarcoma to cause rare embolic events, such as spinal cord embolism.
- Clinicians should consider both common and rare embolic sites in patients with aortic angiosarcoma.
- Early recognition and monitoring of embolic phenomena are crucial for patient management.
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