Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma: a case report

• Published in: BMC research notes Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 41
• Main Authors: Faugeras, Laurence, Cantineau, Gaetan, Daisne, Jean-Francois, Gustin, Thierry, D'hondt, Lionel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 14-02-2015; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Bile Duct Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Bile Duct Neoplasms - pathology; Bile Duct Neoplasms - therapy; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic - diagnostic imaging; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic - pathology; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain - pathology; Brain Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Brain Neoplasms - secondary; Brain Neoplasms - therapy; Cancer; Care and treatment; Case Report; Case studies; Chemotherapy; Cholangiocarcinoma - diagnostic imaging; Cholangiocarcinoma - secondary; Cholangiocarcinoma - therapy; Diagnosis; Gamma Rays - therapeutic use; Health aspects; Humans; Male; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Patient outcomes; Radionuclide Imaging; Spinal Cord - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Cord - pathology; Spinal Cord Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Cord Neoplasms - secondary; Spinal Cord Neoplasms - therapy; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1756-0500; 1756-0500
• DOI: 10.1186/s13104-015-0998-y

Cholangiocarcinomas are rare tumors, and metastasis to the intramedullary spinal cord is also rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of simultaneous cholangiocarcinoma and intramedullary spinal cord metastasis to be described in the medical literature.
A 62-year-old Caucasian male with a cholangiocarcinoma presented pain around his left shoulder without any other symptoms. The results by magnetic resonance imaging and F18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computer tomography revealed an intramedullary metastasis at the C4 level, with spinal cord compression, and numerous secondary parenchymal brain metastases.
This patient was treated successfully with a combination of radiotherapy, corticosteroids, and chemotherapy. He experienced complete relief of the symptoms and showed improvements upon subsequent radiological evaluations.