Spinal epidural rhabdomyosarcoma

• Published in: Acta neurochirurgica Vol. 146; no. 2; pp. 195 - 197
• Main Authors: Rumboldt, Z, Jednacak, H, Talan-Hranilović, J, Kalousek, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Austria Springer Nature B.V 01.02.2004
• Subjects: Cervical Vertebrae - pathology; Cervical Vertebrae - surgery; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Child; Combined Modality Therapy; Epidural Neoplasms - drug therapy; Epidural Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Epidural Neoplasms - surgery; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical treatment; Meningeal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Meningeal Neoplasms - secondary; Neoplasm, Residual - drug therapy; Neoplasm, Residual - radiotherapy; Postoperative Complications - diagnosis; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Rhabdomyosarcoma - diagnosis; Rhabdomyosarcoma - drug therapy; Rhabdomyosarcoma - radiotherapy; Rhabdomyosarcoma - secondary; Rhabdomyosarcoma - surgery; Thoracic Vertebrae - pathology; Thoracic Vertebrae - surgery
• ISSN: 0001-6268; 0942-0940
• DOI: 10.1007/s00701-003-0166-3

We report an extremely rare case of rhabdomyosarcoma in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spine. The MR imaging appearance of the lesion was nonspecific, and different from the one previously reported. The majority of the tumor was removed surgically less than a month from the onset of symptoms. Treatment was continued with spinal irradiation and chemotherapy, however diffuse leptomeningeal metastases were found six months later.