A Case of Metastatic Spinal Epidural Tumor from Gastric Cancer

Taichiro Sato, Shigehiko Shichino, Yukihiko Akita, Takeo Kawamura, Shin-ichi Mizuno, Katsuyuki Ukai, Atsushi Oota, Jun Morioka

Department of Surgical, Yachiyo Hospital

Metastatic tumors in the spinal epidural space are not an infrequent finding, and metastasis from gastric cancer is especially rare. A 58-year-old man, in September 1988, complaining of indefinite lumbago, pain in the right femoral region and slight dysuria. Ordinary radiographs of spine showed spondylitis ankylopoetica. A myelogram revealed no block in lumbar region. In January 1989, the persistent pain was followed by progressive leg weakness. A myelogram showed a complete block at L-3, and a metastatic spinal epidural tumor was suspected. Early gastric cancer was discovered, however, and laminectomy was performed for the rapid progressive diplegia of legs. He lived for five months postoperatively. Four cases of metastatic spinal epidural tumor from gastric cancer was have been reported in Japan. The primary gastric cancers have not been able to be detected preoperatively and definite treatment for the primary tumor has never been performed.

Key words
metastatic tumor, gastric cancer, spinal epidural tumor

Reprint requests
Taichirou Sato Department of Surgery, Yachiyo Hospital
1-10-13 Touei-cho, Anjo, 446 JAPAN

Accepted
January 10, 1990

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