18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging of Cauda Equina Syndrome Secondary to Leptomeningeal Metastatic Breast Cancer

Clin Nucl Med. 2016 Nov;41(11):e485-e486. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000001354.

Abstract

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is an uncommon entity that may be caused by a variety of conditions. It refers to dysfunction of the ventral, dorsal, sacral, and coccygeal nerve roots in the region of the filum terminale. We present a case of a 32-year-old woman with a history of BRCA1-positive metastatic breast cancer who complained of lower extremity muscle weakness increasing over a 2-week period and decreased sensation of the lower extremities accompanied by severe constipation and suspected urinary retention with overflow incontinence. The patient underwent whole-body F-FDG PET/CT and MRI of the spine with and without gadolinium-based contrast.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinoma / complications
  • Carcinoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carcinoma / secondary
  • Cauda Equina / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / complications
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Polyradiculopathy / diagnostic imaging*
  • Polyradiculopathy / etiology
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18