Lumbar plexopathy caused by metastatic tumor, which was mistaken for postoperative femoral neuropathy

Korean J Pain. 2011 Dec;24(4):226-30. doi: 10.3344/kjp.2011.24.4.226. Epub 2011 Nov 30.

Abstract

Surgical excision was performed on a 30-years old woman with a painful mass on her left thigh. The pathologic findings on the mass indicated fibromatosis. After the operation, she complained of allodynia and spontaneous pain at the operation site and ipsilateral lower leg. We treated her based on postoperative femoral neuropathy, but symptom was aggravated. We found a large liposarcoma in her left iliopsoas muscle which compressed the lumbar plexus. In conclusion, the cause of pain was lumbar plexopathy related to a mass in the left iliopsoas muscle. Prompt diagnosis of acute neuropathic pain after an operation is important and management must be based on exact causes.

Keywords: fibromatosis; liposarcoma; neuropathic pain.

Publication types

  • Case Reports