Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Spinal Cord Compression”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

[Vertebral osteonecrosis. Apropos of 4 cases with slow spinal cord compression in 1 case].

The authors report on four cases of aseptic osteonecrosis of the vertebral body in adults (VON). Among these, one patient, in whom histological data were available, presented with a slow spinal cord compression syndrome (SSCCS). This complication is uncommon since only one other similar case has been reported so far (4). VON thus remains an underestimated etiology of SSCCS by non-tumoral compression fracture of the vertebral body. Diagnosis is based on the roentgenograms which evidence osteocondensation with "gaseous dissection" of the vertebral body, the latter being considered as pathognomonic of this disease. The etiopathogeny is still unknown. Treatment is purely symptomatic and the course has always been favorable.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Role of radiotherapy in metastatic spinal cord compression: preliminary results from a prospective trial.

A non-randomized prospective trial in which radiotherapy (RT) alone played the major role in the treatment of metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) is reported. Diagnosis was formulated on myelography and/or myelography plus computed thomography (CT). Of 51 cases treated, 48 are evaluable. The therapy consisted of radiation alone (42 cases) or decompressive laminectomy followed by radiotherapy (6 cases). Surgery was performed when the site of the primary tumor was unknown. The group of patients who received radiotherapy alone (42 of 48 evaluable cases) are analysed in this report. Medium to high doses of steroids were administered to all patients depending on the gravity of the case. Patients with chemo- or hormone-responsive primary tumors also received chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy. Pain relief, assessed by comparing use of narcotics and minor analgesics before and after treatment, was achieved in 54% cases (confidence limits, CL = 38-69%). In 36% (CL = 22-51%) of patients back pain diminished to the point when only milder analgesics were necessary (partial remission). Motor performance, based on patients' ability to walk, improved in 48% cases (CL = 31-65%). The 19 patients who were ambulatory before RT, did not deteriorate after treatment. Sphincter function, evaluated by patient's need for indwelling catheter, improved in 3 of 7 automatic dysfunction cases. It was found that early diagnosis was more important than primary tumor type for predicting a good was found that early diagnosis was more important than primary tumor type for predicting a good prognosis. In fact, all ambulating patients responded to treatment independent of the radiosensitivity of the tumor histology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Pre- and post-treatment daily life function in patients with hormone resistant prostate carcinoma treated with radiotherapy for spinal cord compression.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To identify prognostic factors and prospectively evaluate daily life function and pain experience in hormone resistant prostate cancer patients with spinal cord compression treated with radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients treated at the Norwegian Radium Hospital from May 1996 to October 1999 participated in the study. Daily life activities were assessed at start and discontinuation of radiotherapy and 2 and 6 months thereafter using a questionnaire based on a slightly modified Barthel activity of daily living Index. The patients were followed to death. Clinical parameters (histology, extent of disease at diagnosis, time from cancer diagnosis to start of radiotherapy, time from neurological symptoms to start of radiotherapy, age, number of spinal lesions, pre-treatment function) were assessed to try to prognosticate post-treatment function. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were evaluable. Time from debut of neurological deficits to start of radiotherapy was median 4 days (range 1-66). Median target dose was 30 Gy (range 9-40). Overall survival from start of radiotherapy was median 3.5 months (range 0.3-36.0). In general, improvement with regard to mobility, daily life activities and sphincter control was reported after irradiation. Post-treatment the majority of patients reported pain, usually intermittent, although they used analgesics. No clinically relevant pre-treatment parameters that predicted function after radiotherapy were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy may improve mobility, daily life activity and sphincter control in patients with metastatic spinal cord compression due to hormone resistant prostate cancer. Radiotherapy should therefore be considered in all patients irrespective of the neurological deficits.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2004

Spinal cord compression and lung metastasis of Wilms' tumor in a pregnant adolescent.

Wilms' tumor in adults is rare, and no treatment guidelines have been established. Spinal cord compression has also been rarely reported in all age groups. In this case report, we present a 19-year-old adolescent with recurrent Wilms' tumor, a paraspinal dumbbell mass, metastatic involvement of the vertebral bodies, lung metastasis, and pregnancy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a pregnant patient with Wilms' tumor who had to undergo immediate chemotherapy with vincristine and actinomycin-D owing to spinal cord compression at 25 weeks of pregnancy. After delivery, complete remission was maintained with a regimen of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide and vincristine, actinomycin-D, and cyclophosphamide. No teratogenic or other toxic effects of vincristine or actinomycin-D were observed in the fetus.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1986

Hemorrhage and edema in acute spinal cord compression: demonstration by MR imaging.

Until the development of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging there was no nondestructive technique for monitoring the pathologic response to acute spinal cord trauma. The characteristic findings of hemorrhage, necrosis, and edema have been well described in animal models. We used a 1.4-T, animal imaging system to study acute cord contusions in rats. Contusions were induced by means of extradural aneurysm clip compression, and imaging was performed 3-5 hours after injury with short and long spin-echo (SE) sequences. Animals were killed immediately after imaging, and the gross anatomic and histologic findings were correlated with image appearances. On long SE sequences edema appeared as an area of high signal intensity that extended proximal and distal to the site of contusion. At the contusion site there was focal intraparenchymal hemorrhage which had low signal intensity on T2-weighted images, presumably owing to deoxyhemoglobin. MR imaging can be used to assess pathologic changes resulting from acute cord contusion and to aid in differentiating irreversible damage (hemorrhage) from potentially reversible edema.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Acute spinal cord compression by spontaneous subarachnoid haematoma.

An unusual case of spontaneous spinal subarachnoid haematoma (SAH) is reported. A 42-year-old man developed sudden and excruciating back pain immediately after sitting up from a supine position, and meningeal irritation and spinal cord compression signs of then appeared. Myelography disclosed a filling defect of contrast column at T2 level. After prompt surgical evacuation neurological function was totally regained. Physiopathology and diagnosis are discussed with reference to similar cases in literature.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Spinal cord compression due to multivel thoracic disc herniation: surgical decompression using a "combined" approach. A case report and review of the literature.

A case presenting with signs of spinal cord compression due to double contiguous thoracic disc herniation (TDH) is reported. A 66-year-old woman presented with a 4-month history of intermittent episodes of weakness and numbness in the lower extremities, and urinary dysfunction. Six weeks prior to admission complete paraplegia developed. The diagnosis was established by MRI. Treatment consisted of complete excision of the herniated discs (T8-T9 and T9-T10) and decompression of the spinal cord with a right transpedicular approach combined with standard posterior approach. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the improvement was dramatic. We also include a review of other 39 case reports from the literature. This article highlights the importance of consideration of TDH when one deals with a case with an anterior mass causing spinal cord compression.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Paget's disease with spinal cord compression. Favourable course after decompression and calcitonin treatment in two cases.

Two cases with spinal cord compression due to Paget's disease (osteodystrophia deformans) are reported, which were treated with calcitonin (Salmon Calcitonin) during 12 and 24 months after decompressive laminectomy. Both presented a favourable clinical course with improvement of sensory and bladder disturbances, paraparesis and pain. Diagnostic criteria as X-ray investigation, scintigraphy of bones, biochemical parameters and the long-term treatment whith calcitonin, are discussed.

Calcitonin↗
PubMed1998

Spinal cord compression secondary to extramedullary hematopoiesis in thalassemia intermedia.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis associated with thalassemia causing spinal cord compression is an extremely rare event in the course of the disease. Documentation with an imaging technique, such as MRI, is mandatory. A patient with thalassemia intermedia, who developed paraparesis in spite of transfusion, underwent surgical decompression. Rapid neurological improvement was observed postoperatively and this neurological condition was protected with adequate hemoglobin level. Management of these patients remains controversial. Various modes of therapy such as surgical decompression, radiotherapy, and transfusion are discussed and the related literature is reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Flaccid paraplegia caused by spinal cord compression disclosing Wilms' tumor in a 12-year-old child].

Flaccid paralysis with spinal cord compression led to discovery of Wilm's tumor with multiple subcutaneous and bone metastases in a 12 year-old child. Intraspinal seeding of Wilm's tumor by hematogenous route or direct extension is extremely rare and usually appears late in the course of therapy. Bone metastases are also rare and are frequently seen in the sarcomatous form of the tumor which involves the vertebral column and differential diagnosis with bone metastasizing renal tumor of childhood (BMRTC) should be considered.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1982

[Double spinal cord compression by dorsal meningioma and Paget's disease of a vertebra. A propos of 2 cases treated surgically].

A spinal cord compression due to intradural meningioma appeared in two patients with vertebral X-Rays lesions of foreknown Paget's disease. These lesions were located at the same level that the meningioma in the second case and three vertebra below the meningioma in the first case. In both cases, it took one year between the first clinical symptoms and the surgical decision. We truly think the Paget's disease and its X-Rays vertebral lesions to be responsible for the waist of time in myelography and surgical schedule. No other case of meningioma associated with Paget's disease has been found through literature. Because the treatment of Paget's disease paraplegia is now mostly medical, we thought important to report our experience in order to avoid other delays in this unusual diagnosis.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Prognostic factors in metastatic spinal cord compression: a prospective study using multivariate analysis of variables influencing survival and gait function in 153 patients.

PURPOSE: Based on a very large patient cohort followed prospectively for at least a year or until death, we analyzed the prognostic significance of various clinical and radiological variables on posttreatment ambulatory function and survival. METHODS AND MATERIALS: During a 312-year period we prospectively included 153 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of spinal cord compression due to metastatic disease. The patients were followed with regular neurological examinations by the same neurologist for a minimum period of 11 months or until death. The prognostic significance of five variables on gait function and survival time after treatment was analyzed. RESULTS: The type of the primary tumor had a direct influence on the interval between the diagnosis of the primary malignancy and the occurrence of spinal cord compression (p < 0. 0005), and on the ambulatory function at time of diagnosis (p = 0. 016). There was a clear correlation between the degree of myelographic blockage and gait function (p = 0.000) and between gait function and sensory disturbances (p = 0.000). The final gait was dependent on the gait function at time of diagnosis (p < 0.0005). Survival time after diagnosis depended directly on the time from primary tumor diagnosis until spinal cord compression (p = 0.002), on the ambulatory function at the time of diagnosis (p = 0.018), and on the ambulatory function after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The pretreatment ambulatory function is the main determinant for posttreatment gait function. Survival time is rather short, especially in nonambulatory patients, and can only be improved by restoration of gait function in nonambulatory patients by immediate treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Malignant spinal cord compression: a retrospective audit of clinical practice at a UK regional cancer centre.

Malignant Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC) is a particularly challenging area of cancer care where early diagnosis and expert multiprofessional care and rehabilitation, are paramount in optimising quality of life. This audit reports data collected retrospectively over a period of 12 months on patients with MSCC referred to the West of Scotland Cancer Centre (n = 174). It was carried out to build on the work of the Clinical Resource and Audit Group (CRAG) and to examine current practice for symptom assessment, multiprofessional care and rehabilitation of patients with MSCC admitted to the cancer centre. Areas of concern include poor assessment of pain, the poor ambulatory status of patients on admission and the lack of clear plans for mobilisation and rehabilitation for the majority of patients. Recommendations include the development of regional guidelines for referral, treatment and rehabilitation, and the development of a pathway of care for use in all care settings across the region, together with improvements for use in patient information, staff education, audit and research. These are now being taken forward through the West of Scotland Cancer Network with dedicated funding from Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Humans↗
PubMed1983

Spinal cord compression due to prolapse of cervical intervertebral disc (herniation of nucleus pulposus). Treatment in 26 cases by discectomy without interbody bone graft.

Twenty-six patients who presented with spinal cord compression due to cervical disc prolapse (herniation of the nucleus pulposus) were treated by anterior discectomy. There was a high incidence of disc prolapse at the C3-4 level. The most severe degrees of preoperative disability were associated with prolapse at that level. Impairment of posterior column function, particularly in the upper limbs, played a major part in producing disability. High cervical disc prolapse can produce a clinical picture that is predominantly like that of a posterior cord syndrome. Preexisting fusion of vertebral bodies in the cervical spine and a history of cervical spinal trauma appear to be predisposing factors. Discectomy is an effective treatment of this condition. Spinal cord compression due to cervical disc prolapse should be distinguished from spondylotic myelopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Spinal cord compression secondary to epidural extramedullary hematopoiesis in thalassemia: a clinical case and review of literature].

INTRODUCTION: Extramedullary hematopoiesis generally occurs in a variety of hematological disorders where the normal functioning of the blood forming organs is disturbed. It is a common manifestation in thalassemia where it occurs as a compensatory phenomenon in order to combat long standing anemia. Spinal cord compression as a consequence of extramedullary hematopoiesis in the intraspinal epidural space is an extremely rare complication, though this complication has been reported more commonly in thalassemia. CLINICAL CASE: A case of spinal cord compression due to extramedullary hematopoiesis in a patient with thalassemia is reported. The patient was successfully treated with radiation therapy and blood transfusions and he made a complete clinical recovery. Development. The literature is reviewed and the efficacy of several treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy and blood transfusion therapy is discussed. Until recently surgical decompression followed by radiation therapy remained the recommended treatment. Hematopoietic tissue is particularly sensitive to the ionizing radiation and low-dose radiotherapy is enough to relieve the spinal cord compression. Blood transfusion therapy may be diagnostically and therapeutically useful in the management of this entity. CONCLUSIONS: A prompt recognition of the syndrome and early treatment with radiotherapy and blood transfusion therapy is recommended to prevent irreversible damage to the spinal cord. Surgery may be only considered in the event of progressive neurological deficit despite of radiotherapy or blood transfusion therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Radiotherapy of epidural metastases with spinal cord compression].

BACKGROUND: We have evaluated the records of patients who developed epidural metastases with spinal cord compression and underwent X-ray therapy in combination with dexamethasone. The results, prognostic factors and live-tables will be demonstrated. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between 1984 and 1995 48 patients were treated at the Department of Radiooncology at the University of Münster because of epidural metastases. All but 3 cases were histologically proved. Three patients were irradiated without definitive histology because of clinical symptoms and CT or MR-imaging. Only patients with solid tumors were considered-patients with systemic diseases like leukemia or lymphoma were not analysed. In all of our cases irradiation was combined with systemic steroid application. Radiotherapy was performed with cobalt-60 or with an accelerator with total doses between 25 Gy and 40 Gy. RESULTS: The combination of irradiation and steroids had resulted in pain relief in about 80% of all patients. The ambulatory status after paraparesis was restituted in 35%. Best prognosis had been seen in patients with the following criterions: primary tumor should be breast cancer, no evidence of other tumor manifestation, no signs of paraparesis or paraplegia before the beginning of irradiation or regaining the ambulatory status after therapy. Under these conditions we have calculated a median survival rate of 709 days for these patients with good prognosis. Patients with bronchogenic carcinoma had a very poor prognosis with a median survival rate of only 90 days. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural metastases in cancer led often to a very fatal outcome. Irradiation is useful for pain relief and also for local tumor control. In some cases in patients with good prognostic factors long-time survival could be demonstrated. The results of irradiation are comparable with those after surgery.

Adult↗