Thoracic Radiculopathy due to Rare Causes

• Published in: Annals of rehabilitation medicine Vol. 40; no. 3; pp. 534 - 539
• Main Authors: Choi, Hee Eun, Shin, Min Ha, Jo, Geun Yeol, Kim, Ji Yeon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 01.06.2016; 대한재활의학회
• Subjects: Case Report; 재활의학; Abdominal pain; Ewing sarcoma; Radiculoapthy
• ISSN: 2234-0645; 2234-0653
• DOI: 10.5535/arm.2016.40.3.534

Thoracic radiculopathy represents an uncommon spinal disorder that is frequently overlooked in the evaluation of thoracic, or abdominal pain syndrome. The clinical representation of this uncommon disorder is often atypical. With many differential diagnoses to consider, it is not surprising that the cause of thoracic radiculopathy is often not discovered for months, or years, after the symptoms arise. We report two rare cases of thoracic radiculopathy; one case was caused by extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma (EES) along the thoracic paraspinal area, and the other by foraminal stenosis, due to a bony spur of the thoracic vertebra. As such, thoracic radiculopathy should be considered in the diagnosis of patients with thoracic and abdominal pain, especially if initial diagnostic studies are inconclusive.