Metastatic disease to the spine: intramedullary and extradural compression

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell , 26 Jul 2015
Diagnosis almost certain
Changed by Amir Rezaee, 26 Jul 2015

Updates to Study Attributes

Findings was changed:

Mass lesions in the upper cervical cord with restricted diffusion consistent with metastases associated with extrinsic compression by extradural masses at the level of the C 3 vertebra and in the upper thoracic spine.

Updates to Case Attributes

Body was changed:

Intraparenchymal cord metastases are unusual but should be considered in patients with disseminated malignancy.  Note the restricted diffusion in these cord lesions due to the packed nature of the cytoplasm within malignant cells (higher nucleus to cytoplasm ratio compared with normal cells) and the trapping of water molecules in the interspaces between cells.

  • -<p>Intraparenchymal cord metastases are unusual but should be considered in patients with disseminated malignancy.  Note the restricted diffusion in these cord lesions due to the packed nature of the cytoplasm within malignant cells (higher nucleus to cytoplasm ratio compared with normal cells) and the trapping of water molecules in the interspaces between cells</p>
  • +<p>Intraparenchymal cord metastases are unusual but should be considered in patients with disseminated malignancy.  Note the restricted diffusion in these cord lesions due to the packed nature of the cytoplasm within malignant cells (higher nucleus to cytoplasm ratio compared with normal cells) and the trapping of water molecules in the interspaces between cells.</p>

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