Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis from colon cancer: A case report

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis is a rare condition of systemic malignancy. We report a 41-year-old woman presenting with progressive paraparesis and acute urinary retention approximately one year after diagnosis of colon cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination showed a tumor in the medullary conus. The preoperative diagnosis was ependymoma or astrocytoma. Decompressive laminectomy and partial removal of the conus mass were performed and pathological report revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma. Postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy were also undertaken. Her neurological condition had improved two months after the operation. Unfornately, the patient died one year later from multiple metastases in the brain, liver and lung.