Metastatic intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumor from ovarian cancer: A case report with a literature review

Abstract

Context: Metastatic intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors are extremely rare.

Findings: A 76-year-old woman presented with intractable neck pain. Three years earlier, she had been treated for ovarian cancer with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. A year later, she underwent resection of a brain metastasis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an encapsulated intradural extramedullary mass at C4–C5. C4–C5 hemilaminectomy, tumor resection, and biopsy were performed. Histological examination of the resection revealed an adenocarcinoma. After surgery, her intolerable neck-shoulder pain was fully resolved, and she had no difficulties with daily living activities. However, two months later, she underwent gamma knife radiosurgery for the recurrent metastatic brain tumor, and four months later, she died from cachexia.

Conclusion: Although cases of metastatic intradural extramedullary spinal tumors from ovarian cancer are extremely rare, their possibility should be considered in the differential diagnosis. A history of brain metastases and enhancement on T1-weighted MRI were helpful for making an accurate diagnosis.

Keywords:

• Cervical spine
• Spinal cord tumor
• Metastasis
• Ovarian cancer

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.jp) for English language editing.