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  • Title: Metastatic pulmonary intimal sarcoma presenting as cauda equina syndrome: first report of a case.
    Author: Rashid A, Molloy S, Lehovsky J, Tirabosco R, Hughes R, Butt S.
    Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976); 2008 Jul 01; 33(15):E516-20. PubMed ID: 18594450.
    Abstract:
    STUDY DESIGN: Case report and clinical discussion. OBJECTIVE: To describe a rare case of metastatic pulmonary intimal sarcoma presenting as cauda equine syndrome. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Pulmonary artery sarcoma is a rare tumor, frequently misdiagnosed as pulmonary embolism, and although it is highly aggressive, metastasis to bone is very rare. In our case, the tumor metastasised to the vertebral column, which lead the patient to present with cauda equine-type symptoms. METHODS: We report the clinical and imaging features in a 38-year-old female presenting with back pain and weakness of the legs. Although initially misdiagnosed as a primary bone tumor of the vertebral column and a concurrent pulmonary embolism, the final diagnosis of pulmonary artery sarcoma with spinal metastasis, presenting as cauda equina syndrome was made. RESULTS: At surgery, the mass was excised with the pulmonary valve and replaced with a homograft. The histology demonstrated an undifferentiated intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery. When stable enough the patient underwent a posterior L4-S1 decompression laminectomy after which she regained the power in the legs. The histology also showed a metastatic undifferentiated intimal sarcoma likely to have come from the pulmonary artery. The patient went on to receive a more formal vertebrectomy, front and back repair, and radiotherapy. Her 1-year follow-up computed tomography (CT) chest showed evidence of further metastases. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first case of metastatic pulmonary intimal sarcoma presenting as cauda equine syndrome described in the literature.
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