Medium urgency
-Moderately severe
It is a combination of symptoms that appears due to compression of the lowest nerve roots in the spinal cord, the lumbosacral roots.
It generally appears secondary to the spreading of a lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and/or multiple myeloma. It grows away from the original cancer, compressing the nerves.
It presents with intense back pain, weakness in the legs, reduction of deep tendon reflexes, problems of urinary continence and loss of sensation in the genital and gluteal area (in the saddle area).
It is diagnosed by a visit to a doctor and is confirmed with NMRI.
Treatment is based on glucocorticoids which help to control the pain, prevent progression and preserve neurological function.
- Schiff D. Clinical features and diagnosis of neoplastic epidural spinal cord compression, including cauda equina síndrome. Up to date. Nov 09, 2015.
- Bach F, Larsen BH, Rohde K, et al. Metastatic spinal cord compression. Occurrence, symptoms, clinical presentations and prognosis in 398 patients with spinal cord compression. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 1990; 107:37.
- Loblaw DA, Perry J, Chambers A, Laperriere NJ. Systematic review of the diagnosis and management of malignant extradural spinal cord compression: the Cancer Care Ontario Practice Guidelines Initiative's Neuro-Oncology Disease Site Group. J Clin Oncol 2005; 23:2028.
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
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