Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 1, 99-106, Copyright © 1983 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
Intramedullary spinal cord metastases from small cell carcinoma of the lung
KC Murphy, R Feld, WK Evans, FA Shepherd, R Perrin, AA Sima and PY Poon
Four patients with intramedullary spinal cord metastases from small cell
carcinoma of the lung (SCCL) are described, with emphasis on clinical
presentation and treatment. All patients developed the Brown- Sequard
syndrome due to intramedullary tumor in the cervical spinal cord, three
within 2 mo after combined modality treatment using chemotherapy and
radiotherapy. One patient presented with a Brown- Sequard syndrome and an
extradural spinal cord compression from tumor. The radiological and
cerebrospinal fluid findings are presented and discussed. Radiation
treatment was administered to the involved segments of spinal cord in each
patient. All patients responded; two for 3 and 7 mo, two for 3 and 4 wk,
respectively. There was significant improvement in the quality of life for
three of the four patients.
