Intramedullary spinal cord metastases in breast cancer: report of four cases and review of the literature

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCM) are usually the result of rapidly progressing systemic cancer. Breast cancer represents one of the most common solid tumors associated with the development of ISCM at rather advanced stages of disease. In the present report we describe four new cases with advanced breast cancer developing ISCM. All cases presented herein indicated that ISCM is a late manifestation of disseminated breast cancer. Three of these patients had been treated for approximately 1–3 years for metastatic disease. Once ISCM developed, concurrent asymptomatic brain metastases were detected in one case, concurrent symptomatic brain disease (cerebellar) was present at the time of cervical ISCM diagnosis in another patient, and in another case, ISCM developed metachronously at 18 months after the diagnosis of symptomatic brain metastases treated by whole brain radiotherapy. One of these cases had brain metastases at presentation, while at relapse developed leptomeningeal carcinomatosis treated successfully, but followed shortly, as a terminal event, by ISCM and parenchymal brain recurrence.All but one patient experienced a rather rapidly evolving disease course leading to death after 2–5 months from widespread neuraxis dissemination of their cancer, while one patient is still alive 6 months after the diagnosis of ISCM. All four cases, added to the list of the anecdotally reported cases of ISCM after breast cancer, undermine the ominous prognosis and limited treatment options available for this disease manifestation, and an extensive literature review and discussion of similar cases is provided.     

Clinical outcome in patients with intramedullary spinal cord metastases from lung cancer

Abstract Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCM) are uncommon and present with rapidly progressing neurological deficits. The objective of this study was to determine the rate, duration of neurological response and survival after radiation therapy. We have retrospectively reviewed the clinical outcome of six cases with a diagnosis of ISCM from primary lung cancer, non-small cell (NSCLC) (n=3) and small cell (SCLC) (n=3). Total radiation dose ranged from 27 Gy/5 fr to 40 Gy/20 fr. Ambulation was preserved in 3 patients and partially recovered in one. Five out of the six patients (83%) showed improvement in neurological signs/symptoms with a mean duration of 17.2 days (max: 40 days; min: 6 days). Median survival time was 5 months (confidence interval (CI) 95%: 0–12) for NSCLC and 5 months (CI 95%: 4–6) for SCLC. Although radiation response rate is high, the interval free of neurological progression is very short. A therapeutic approach should be considered for each individual.     

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases: Report of three cases and review of the literature

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCM) is a rare, but devastating complication of malignant disease. Prognosis is poor, with an overall median survival (OS) of 4 months from the time of diagnosis. Yet, ISCMs are being increasingly diagnosed, related to advances and increased use of imaging and therapies that prolong survival in patients with cancer. Prompt and accurate diagnosis of ISCM is necessary for effective treatment, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred imaging technique. The optimal management of these patients is controversial because of the multitude of clinical circumstances and the lack of controlled studies on the efficacy of the different therapeutic approaches. Increased awareness of this rare entity may lead to an earlier diagnosis at a stage when neurological deficits are reversible, and therefore, more effective palliation may be achieved. Therefore, we carried out this retrospective research of 3 observations of ISCM, associated with a detailed review of the literature describing the diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary characteristics of this special rare entity.     

肺癌脊髓内转移二例报道并文献复习

背景与目的 肺癌脊髓内转移病例少见,目前没有标准治疗方案,疗效差.本研究的目的是探讨肺癌脊髓内转移的临床特征、诊断及治疗方法.方法 对我院2005年收治的2例肺癌脊髓内转移患者诊断及治疗过程进行分析,并复习相关文献.结果 两例肺癌脊髓内转移患者进展迅速,疗效差.结论 肺癌脊髓内转移临床表现不典型,MRI为首选诊断方法,放疗为主要治疗手段.该病预后差.     

Surgical treatment of intramedullary spinal cord metastases of systemic cancer: functional outcome and prognosis

Objective: Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCM) of systemic cancer are rare. To date, patients with ISCM tend to benefit only to a limited extend from surgery and adjuvant therapy. Subject of this investigation is to assess predictive factors for surgical outcome and survival and to evaluate the value of surgical radicality in the treatment of ISCM. Patients and methods: Between 1990 and 2004, a series of 146 patients with intramedullary tumors underwent surgical treatment in our institution. Among these, 13 patients with intramedullary cancer metastases (7 adenocarcinomas, 3 poorly differentiated carcinomas, 3 sarcomas) were identified. Standard microsurgical removal of the ISCM was performed. Functional outcome was graded according to a standardized scale and factors influencing outcome and survival were statistically analyzed. Results: Median progression-free survival was 13 weeks and median overall survival was 31 weeks. In 5 patients (38) the intramedullary lesion was the initial manifestation of the malignant disease. All poorly differentiated carcinomas and all sarcomas were resected incompletely. Surgical radicality presented a negative predictive factor for functional outcome, increasing radicality leading to functional deterioration. Age, sex, tumor localization, surgical radicality and the presence of neoplastic meningeosis did not affect survival. Conclusion: Surgery of ISCM can be performed with an acceptable operative morbidity. Radicality depended on tumor histology. However, radical tumor removal did not affect survival and was correlated with a poor functional outcome. Therefore, complete surgical removal of ISCM should only be intended in patients in whom an unproblematic excision is feasible.     

恩度治疗小细胞肺癌脑转移瘤瘤周水肿1例报告及文献复习

目的:探讨治疗脑转移瘤瘤周水肿的方法。方法:总结1例小细胞肺癌脑转移患者的临床资料及恩度治疗脑转移瘤瘤周水肿的效果,并对治疗脑水肿相关文献进行复习。结果:恩度抗血管生成治疗小细胞肺癌脑转移瘤瘤周水肿有很好的临床效果,能够控制脑水肿,减轻临床症状,提高生活质量。结论:恩度可以作为治疗脑转移瘤瘤周水肿的有效药物选择。     

Primary neurocytoma of the spinal cord: a case report and review of literature

Summary Most central neurocytomas (CN) and spinal neurocytomas (SN) have a bland well-differentiated histologic picture and uneventful clinical course. However, rare examples showing histologic atypia, recurrence and even CSF dissemination have been reported. Herein we report a case of recurrent spinal neurocytoma in a 24-year-old male who presented with a 2-month history of weakness and numbness of the left upper and lower limbs, and was previously operated at the same site 10 months ago. MRI revealed a contrast enhancing intramedullary mass involving C5-T1 region. Radiologic and operative impression at both surgeries was that of a glioma, possibly anaplastic. Histologic and immunohistochemical features in both resections were those of an atypical neurocytoma. The tumor showed rare mitoses, focal mild vascular proliferation in both specimens, and necrosis in the initial specimen. MIB1 labeling indices were 9 and 10%, respectively. Based on the analysis of this case and limited data from the literature, it is hypothesized that SN shows a histopathologic picture, immunoprofile and biologic behavior very similar to CN. However, the presence of histologic atypia and increased MIB1 index in SN appear to more closely correlate with tumor recurrence and a worse overall outcome, in part due to their location in the critical region of cervical spinal cord. Therefore, we hypothesize that SN with atypia requires a close clinical follow up. As in CN, radiation therapy is perhaps best reserved for atypical, progressive and recurrent SN.     

Diagnosis and management of spinal metastases from breast cancer

Conclusions Metastases to the spine is a common manifestation of breast cancer leading to considerable reduction in the patient's quality of life due to troublesome back pain and neurologic morbidity. It is not uncommon for spinal metastases to be an early and predominant manifestation of the patients systemic disease process. Although the breast cancer must be considered to be advanced, these patients will frequently have a reasonable functional status at the time of diagnosis of the spinal metastases. Accordingly, an aggressive approach of management should be considered in such patients so as to potentially achieve the most effective palliation. In the setting of breast cancer metastatic to the spine, radiation/systemic steroidal therapy remains the first line of management. The principle exception favoring primary surgical management is roentgenographic evidence of spinal instability related to the vertebral involvement by the metastatic process. The surgical team must also remain ready to intervene early with surgical decompression and spinal stabilization when any neurologic deterioration occurs during radiation therapy. When surgery is indicated, the anterior transthoracic approach to spinal metastases is an effective means of palliating these breast cancer patients.A team approach involving the spinal surgeon, thoracic surgeon and anesthesiologist optimizes the care of the patient requiring thoracic spinal decompression of metastatic disease. Involvement of the thoracic surgeon in these patients care can result in expeditious thoracic exposure of the pathologic area of concern and valuable contribution to the post-operative care of these unfortunate patients.     

Basal cell carcinoma with lung metastases: a case report

Metastases from basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are very rare. Some clinical and histologic features have been demonstrated in these cases without corroborative evidence. Treatment of these cases has been disappointing. In this article, we report a patient with metastatic BCC who was treated successfully by surgical resection of lung metastases.     

Total vertebral body breast cancer metastases: one case report and literature review

Introduction
Breast cancer is one of the most commonly seen malignant tumors in the female population, and it ranks the first in the incidence of malignancies among women. The skeleton is a common metastatic site for advanced breast cancer and is where spinal metastasis is most frequently seen. The incidence rate of spinal metastasis in descending order is as follows： thoracic vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, sacrococcygeal vertebrae and cervical vertebrae.     

Chemotherapy for brain metastases of lung cancer: A review

In lung cancer patients brain metastases develop with a high frequency. For years radiotherapy has been the standard treatment for these patients. Here we review the experience with chemotherapy for brain metastases in lung cancer patients. The concept of the brain as pharmacological sanctuary site when brain metastases are present is challenged and it is argued that chemotherapy does play a role in this situation. Recent clinical trials indicate that the combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy may become the standard treatment for lung cancer patients with brain metastases. It is unclear whether for micrometastatic disease to the brain, blood brain barrier function is of importance for the outcome of chemotherapy in lung cancer patients with respect to the development of overt brain metastases. Areas of improvement of delivery of cytotoxic agents to the brain when brain metastases have not yet developed are discussed.     

非小细胞肺癌脑转移的研究进展

非小细胞肺癌脑转移的治疗对肿瘤学家是一种挑战。虽然近年脑转移研究有所进展,但生存率并不乐观。本文阐述非小细胞肺癌脑转移的临床特点、诊断方法、预后因素以及治疗进展。脑转移最常见的症状为因颅内压力增高所致的头痛。评价脑转移时,头颅MRI较CT优越。最常用的预后标准是肿瘤放射治疗组(RTOG)的RPA分级。关于全脑放疗、立体定向放射外科、手术以及化疗治疗脑转移的作用仍存在争议。全脑放疗常作为脑转移的标准治疗方案。SRS对单一或多个脑转移灶的治疗可代替外科切除。许多数据证明化疗有较好的颅内作用,这引起全身化疗治疗脑转移的研究热点。确立预后因素和其他临床特点后,才能制定最适合个体患者的治疗。     

Clinical case report and literature review: metachronous colorectal splenic metastases

A 52-year-old woman with a rising carcinoembryonic antigen CEA, no clinical or radiological findings, a negative colonoscopy, and a positron emission tomography (PET) scan that revealed an isolated hypermetabolic lesion in the spleen. The patient underwent splenectomy by laparoscopic surgery. The pathological study confirmed the presence of an isolated metastasis to the spleen. This case reveals the rare occurrence of isolated splenic metastases in the context of colorectal cancer and illustrates the role of PET when a patient shows a rising CEA with negative clinicoradiological studies.     

Small cell lung cancer transformation from EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma: A case report and literatures review

Epithelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) have markedly improved the response of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR-mutant patients. However, these patients inevitably come cross acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs. The transformation of lung adenocarcinoma to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) following treatment with EGFR-TKIs is rare, which leads to resistance to EGFR-TKIs.

The present case concerns a case of a 38-year-old man presenting with cough and dyspnea. Radical resection was performed and confirmed an EGFR exon 21 L858R lung adenocarcinoma. However, the patient suffered pleural metastasis after successful treatment with surgery and adjuvant treatment. So, erlotinib was administered with 18 months. Because of enlarged pleural nodule, repeat biopsy identified an SCLC and chemotherapy was started. However, despite the brief success of chemotherapy, our patient suffered brain metastasis.

Our case emaphsizes both the profile of transformation from NSCLC to SCLC and the importance of repeat biopsy dealing with drug resistance. We also summarize the clinical characteristics, mechanisms, predictors of SCLC transformation, treatment after transformation and other types of transformation to SCLC.     

Podophyllotoxins for brain metastases of small cell lung cancer

Summary A patient with brain metastases of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) responded initially to cranial irradiation. Recurrences were subsequently successfully treated with high-dose intravenous etoposide (VP 16–213) and teniposide (VM 26). Epipodophyllotoxins are potentially useful for CNS metastases of SCLC.     

Spinal cord infarction in a patient with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, receiving chemotherapy combined with bevacizumab

Bevacizumab is an anti-angiogenesis agent that has many applications in the current management of patients with cancer, including advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Its value is however, not without side effects. We present the first reported case of spinal cord infarction in the setting of bevacizumab use in a 70-year old woman with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.     

Detection of brain metastases from small cell lung cancer: consequences of changing imaging techniques (CT versus MRI)

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to show 1) the effect of changing from computed tomography (CT) to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on the prevalence of detected brain metastases (BM) in patients with newly diagnosed small cell lung cancer (SCLC); 2) the difference in survival between patients with single and multiple BM; and 3) the effect of the change in patient labeling on eligibility for prophylactic brain irradiation. METHODS: From 1980 to 2004, 481 consecutive patients with SCLC were enrolled. Brain imaging was routinely performed after diagnosis of SCLC. At the start of 1991, MRI replaced CT in almost all patients. All patients were regularly examined by a neurologist. RESULTS: The prevalence of detected BM was 10% in the CT era and 24% in the MRI era. In the CT era, all detected BM were symptomatic, whereas in the MRI era, 11% were asymptomatic. In both periods, patients labeled as single BM survived longer than those labeled as multiple BM. For patients labeled as single BM or multiple BM, survival was longer in the MRI era than in the CT era. The proportion of patients who were eligible for prophylactic cranial irradiation was lower in the MRI era. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated prevalence of BM increases when MRI is used instead of CT. Patients with a detected single BM survive longer than patients with multiple BM. The apparently increased survival in the MRI era can be attributed to the "Will Rogers phenomenon". The use of MRI makes fewer patients eligible for prophylactic cranial irradiation.     

Neurologic complications of lung cancer

Lung cancer and its associated treatments can cause various neurologic complications, including brain and leptomeningeal metastases, epidural spinal cord compression, cerebrovascular events, and treatment-related neurotoxicities. Lung cancer care has significantly changed in the last 5 to 10 years, with novel therapies that have affected aspects of neurologic complication management. Herein, the authors review the potential neurologic complications of lung cancer, including important clinical and therapeutic aspects of care.