Metastatic carcinoma of the spine with neurologic complications: an autopsy review.

Abstract

We conducted post-mortem examinations on 12 patients who had documented metastatic carcinoma to the spine with attendant neurologic complications. The examinations were studied to determine the location of the metastatic lesion in relation to the spinal cord. Both gross and microscopic examinations were performed, with particular attention to the level of compression. The majority of the metastatic tumors involved the vertebral body and pedicles anterior to the spinal cord. The findings of this autopsy review support previous surgical findings, and re-emphasize the importance of considering tumor location before treating compression of the spinal cord secondary to metastatic carcinoma.