Metastatic spinal cord compression as an oncology emergency: getting our act together.

Oncology emergency modules: spinal cord compression.

SCC occurs as a result of a malignant neoplasm compressing the spinal cord. Malignant tumors may be classified as primary (i.e., arising from the tissue of the spinal cord or spinal canal) or secondary (i.e., arising as metastatic solid tumors) (Schafer, 1997). SCC most commonly is caused by metastatic tumors. Progression of symptoms is more rapid with metastatic tumors when compared to primary...

Modern approaches to the management of metastatic epidural spinal cord compression.

Metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) is an oncologic emergency requiring prompt treatment to maximize neurologic function, ambulatory function and local control. Traditionally, options for MESCC included external beam radiation therapy with or without surgery. Surgery has usually been reserved for the patient with optimal performance status, single level MESCC or mechanical insta...

Treatment of metastatic epidural spinal cord compression: the Goldilocks principle.

Letter to the editor concerning 'Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) versus lapatinib plus capecitabine in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer and central nervous system metastases: a retrospective, exploratory analysis in EMILIA'.

defined the triad of pathological fracture, spinal cord compression and need for surgery to bone as ‘morbid skeletal events’ (MSEs). With this analysis (Table 1), we demonstrate that while ZA demonstrated a significant delay in MSE compared with placebo (P = 0.004, there was no significant benefit of denosumab over ZA for both first and first and subsequent MSE (P = 0.07 and 0.35, respectively)...

Spinal Cord Compression Secondary to Metastatic Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma

Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) is a rare malignancy of the upper airways and anterior skull base that carries a poor prognosis. The tumor is known to be invasive into the surrounding structures of the skull base and brain. To date, there is only one existing case report documenting drop metastasis to the intradural extramedullary spinal cord. To the best of our knowledge, we presen...