Back pain, which can precede the appearance of other signs indicating a spinal metastasis by months or even years, is the single most important component of the clinical presentation [1] [2]. Studies discriminate two types of pain [1] [2]:

• Tumor-related pain - Pain developing during the night or early morning in a localized fashion is thought to occur as a result of the tumor's expanding effect in the spine, causing increased pressure [1] [2]. Although it may increase in severity, it resolves with activity and becomes absent during the day [1] [2]:
• Mechanical pain - Pathological compression of the spine and possible fractures that develop due to the presence of the tumor inevitably leads to pain that becomes aggravated by activity or in the setting of higher load on the spine (for example, during walking or standing) [1] [2]. Another distinguishing feature of mechanical pain is that it is not responsive to steroid therapy, unlike tumor-related pain [1].

In addition to back pain, neurological findings are the second important element of spinal metastases [1] [2]. Radiculopathy is perhaps the predominant type of neurological deficit, manifesting as weakness or pain in the upper or lower extremities (depending on the level of the lesion) [1] [2]. Band-like pain is reported in the case of a thoracic radiculopathy, whereas hyperreflexia, a positive Babinski sign, and deficits of the spinothalamic tract functions (pain/temperature/sensation) are hallmarks of a myelopathy [1] [2]. If the tumor is located in the sacral region and affects the conus medularis, autonomic dysfunction (poor sphincter and bladder control) can be noted [1]. Although rare, an asymptomatic clinical course is possible [1] [2].

• Turkish

  A 41-year-old Turkish man was treated with radiofrequency tumor ablation and percutaneous vertebral augmentation for spinal metastasis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Turkish Neurosurgery 8: 276-280. Nijjar TS, Simpson WJ, Gadalla T, McCartney M (1993) Oligodendroglioma: The Princess Margaret Hospital Experience (1958-1984). Cancer 71: 4002-4006. [jneuro.com]

• Back Pain

  In addition to back pain, neurological findings are the second important element of spinal metastases. [symptoma.com]

  A 41-year-old male presented with a 1-month history of severe back pain radiating to both legs. The patient underwent a right nephrectomy for treatment of a RCC 1-year before admission. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Low Back Pain

  MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 79-year-old male patient presented with low back pain since 1 year and severe sacral pain irradiating to the left leg, paraparesis, urinary dysfunction and leg weakness since one week. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Metastatic choriocarcinoma is a rare differential diagnosis of low back pain after pregnancy and should be considered in differential diagnoses. [omicsonline.org]

• Spine Pain

  Pain mainly when you sit or stand usually means that the tumor is causing weakness or instability in the bones of your spine. Pain primarily at night or in the early morning that gets better as you move is often the first symptom of a tumor. [mskcc.org]

  One month later, the patient returned with numbness and weakness of his right arm and posterior low cervical spine pain. [jamanetwork.com]

• Testicular Mass

  2014 [21] 34/F L1-L2 vertebral bodies T11-L4 epidural Lung Paraparesis Laminectomy Yes No Remission (10 months after diagnosis) M: Male F: Female * Metastatic choriocarcinoma in these patients originated from testicular mass. [omicsonline.org]

• Hyperreflexia

  Band-like pain is reported in the case of a thoracic radiculopathy, whereas hyperreflexia, a positive Babinski sign, and deficits of the spinothalamic tract functions (pain/temperature/sensation) are hallmarks of a myelopathy. [symptoma.com]

  Myelopathy begins as hyperreflexia, a Babinski reflex and clonus, but progresses to weakness, proprioceptive sensory loss, and loss of pain and temperature below the level of the spinal cord compression. [theoncologist.onlinelibrary.wiley.com]

• Foot Drop

  Echocardiography revealed a left atrial tumor in a 59-year-old man with back pain that concurrently worsened with left foot drop and loss of the left ankle reflex soon after admission to our hospital. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The spine is the most common site of skeletal tumor spread and it is estimated that up to 70% of individuals who suffer from a malignant disease (the breast, prostate, thyroid, kidney, pancreas, and lung all spread to the musculoskeletal system) will eventually develop a spinal metastasis [3] [4]. Hence, this entity must be considered in the diagnostic workup of such patients, particularly in the presence of back pain. The physician is obliged to perform a detailed history, during which all important symptoms should be covered, as well as their course and progression, whereas the physical examination provides crucial findings that aid in localizing the etiology. Still, to confirm the diagnosis and establish the exact level of metastatic tumor spread, imaging studies need to be employed. Plain radiography is commonly used as the first-line study in the assessment of spinal-related pathologies, but for a tumor to be visualized on X-rays, it needs to be at least 1 cm in size and cause significant vertebral damage (destruction of 30-50% of the vertebral body) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. For this reason, advanced studies are often required. CT and myelography were very useful until the introduction of MRI, one of the most important diagnostic modalities when it comes to spinal metastasis [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]. Bone scanning (99mTc) is a great study that allows detection of tumors and inflammation throughout the entire skeleton, not only the spine, and is frequently used in combination with MRI and other studies [1] [4] [5] [6]. If an opportunity for a biopsy exists, an open biopsy is the favored approach [5] [7].

• Trophoblastic Cells

  […] gestational form and the more frequently seen gestational form that consists of abnormal trophoblastic cell growth and occur once in every 20,000 to 40,000 pregnancies [ 3 ]. CC has a tendency for rapid hematogeneous metastasis to multiple organs. [omicsonline.org]

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