A Clinical Study of Metastatic Spinal Epidural Tumor

ABSTRACT

The authors analysed 40 cases of metastatic spinal epidural tumor who admitted to the Wonju Christian hospital and Severance hospital, Yonsei University from January, 1989 to September, 1993. The results were summarized as follows 1. The mean age was 54.7 years old and the metastatic spinal epidural tumor was most common in the 7th decade of age (35.0%). 2. The most common primary tumor was lung cancer (37.5%), and the rests were hepatoma (15.0%), leukemia (7.5%), stomach cancer (7.5%), lymphoma (5.0%) and pancreas cancer (5.0%), while 4 cases (10.0%) were of unknown primary tumor. 3. The level of the involved spine was thoracic (67.5%), lumbosacral (25.0%), and cervical (7.5%) in orders. 4. The most common initial symptom was pain and the common symptoms at diagnosis were pain, weakness, sensory loss and voiding difficulty. 5. In radiologic studies, plain X-ray showed bone involvement in 70.6%, 74.1% in bone scan and 87.5% in MRI respectively. 6. Signal intensity of tumor in MRI was iso or low on T1WI and high on T2WI. 7. Response to treatment was excellent in 60%, especially in early treated group within 5 days.