Metastatic intradural primary spinal osteosarcoma: illustrative case

Abstract

BACKGROUND Osteosarcomas are a common primary bone neoplasm among adolescents but represent 0.2% of all malignancies with an incidence of two to four cases per million persons annually worldwide. Although known to have significant metastatic potential, its rare incidence, treatment resistance, and poor prognosis have rendered it a poorly understood and infrequently documented pathology. OBSERVATIONS Herein the authors present the first documented case of lumbosacral intradural metastasis of a primary osteosarcoma in a young patient, possibly via intradural dissemination following pinhole durotomy in a prior thoracic surgery. LESSONS Osteosarcomas remain a difficult pathology to treat, particularly upon metastatic dissemination. The utility of adjuvant radiotherapy after resection of an osteosarcoma is increasingly evident in the reduction of local recurrence. In the context of intraoperative pinhole durotomies in resections of high-grade lesions, due consideration should be given to whole-spine radiation, although this remains an evidence-free zone.