Intramedullary spinal cord and leptomeningeal metastases in a patient with carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Gynecol Oncol. 2006 Jul;102(1):124-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2006.01.025. Epub 2006 Feb 21.

Abstract

Background: : Neoplastic meningitis in patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix is unusual in the course of their diseases. Even more unusual are intramedullary spinal metastases.

Case: We report the case of a 64-year-old woman who presented with leptomeningeal and intramedullary spinal cord metastases from a grade 2 squamous cell cancer of the uterine cervix. This is just the second case of intramedullary metastases from cervical carcinoma.

Conclusion: Neoplastic meningitis or intramedullary metastases are extremely rare in the course of uterine cervix carcinoma. Nevertheless, when indicated by symptoms, patients should undergo MRI of the brain and/or spine and have a lumbar puncture performed, for the diagnosis of this devastating complication. Treatment is mainly palliative but may offer symptom relief.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Middle Aged
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology*