Intramedullary Spinal Cord Metastases Presenting As the First Manifestation of Lung Adenocarcinoma: Report of a Rare Case

Abstract

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCM) are a rare complication of cancer and rarely reveal it. We report a case of a 54-year-old man who experienced progressive weakness and numbness of his right leg, which caused him to have walking difficulties. The spinal cord MRI demonstrated centromedullary high signal intensity in the cervicodorsal region, suggesting secondary locations. The patient underwent a CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, which showed a lung tumor. The lung biopsy revealed an acinar-predominant adenocarcinoma. The patient's treatment involved both chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and he died two months after the diagnosis.