Thermal injury to spinal cord, a rare complication of percutaneous microwave spine tumor ablation: Case report

Abstract

Metastatic disease to the spine are becoming increasingly common with an aging population and improvements in systemic cancer therapies. Surgery, radiation, and vertebroplasty are mainstay modalities for treating painful spine metastases. Recently, image-guided percutaneous ablation techniques have emerged a promising therapeutic option. Multiple studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of percutaneous ablation techniques; however, complications can arise from these procedures. Here, we present a case involving a rare complication of percutaneous microwave, thermal spinal cord injury, as well as a brief review of the current literature.

Keywords: Metastasis; Percutaneous ablation; Spine oncology.