Intramedullary Spinal Cord Solitary Metastasis as the Inaugural Presentation of Colorectal Cancer: A Case Report

Abstract

This is a case report of intramedullary spinal cord metastasis (ISCM) of a colorectal cancer (CRC). A 67-year-old male with no relevant medical history presented with paresthesias in the lower limbs and paraparesis for 7 days. Thoracic spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated an oval intramedullary lesion suggestive of metastatic lesion. Primary tumor was a rectosigmoid transition zone invasive adenocarcinoma. He had a rapidly progressive neurological condition and became paraplegic with urinary and fecal incontinence. A conservative approach was performed, with spinal cord radiotherapy and derivate colostomy. The patient died 3 months later. This case report describes ISCM from CRC. Although it represents a rare clinical entity, we must be alert in order to achieve the earliest possible diagnosis trying to preserve the patient's quality of life.