Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma metastasis to the thoracic spine

J Clin Neurosci. 2016 Feb:24:143-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2015.07.014. Epub 2015 Oct 21.

Abstract

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a very rare salivary gland malignancy accounting for less than 1% of salivary gland tumors, and classically arises from the parotid gland in females. Spinal cord compression caused by EMC metastasized from the parotid gland has only been described once in the literature to our knowledge. We report the first case of a patient with parotid EMC spinal metastasis undergoing a gross total resection with instrumented fusion. This case illustrates that an en bloc resection with a planned transgression through the spinal canal may be a reasonable option for EMC metastasized to the spine.

Keywords: En bloc; Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma; Gross total resection; Instrumented fusion; Spinal cord compression.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma / secondary*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Myoepithelioma / secondary*
  • Parotid Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Spinal Cord Compression / etiology
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / complications
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / secondary*