An intramedullary "flame" recognized as being an intramedullary spinal cord metastasis from esophageal cancer

J Radiol Case Rep. 2019 Jul 31;13(7):14-20. doi: 10.3941/jrcr.v13i7.3555. eCollection 2019 Jul.

Abstract

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases are rarely encountered in patients suffering from extra - central nervous system primary cancer, with only 2 described cases reported in the literature deriving from esophageal cancer. Intramedullary spinal cord metastases may occur at any level of the spinal cord but cervical location is the most frequent. We report the first case of intramedullary metastasis affecting the thoracic spinal cord from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a 35-year-old patient.

Keywords: MRI; esophageal cancer; flame sign; intramedullary spinal cord metastases; rim sign.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma / pathology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spinal Cord / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / secondary*