Bicytopenia as a Rare Indicator of Intramedullary Spinal Cord Metastatic Prostatic Carcinoma

Understanding the Case: A Rare Presentation

  • A 70-year-old male patient initially investigated for bicytopenia was later diagnosed with an intramedullary spinal cord metastasis (ISCM) of undifferentiated prostatic carcinoma.
  • The patient had no initial neurological symptoms, which is uncommon for spinal metastases.
  • The diagnosis was confirmed through bone marrow biopsy, revealing PSA-positive undifferentiated carcinoma cells.
  • A bone scan showed multiple metastases, leading to the initiation of hormone therapy and plans for transurethral resection of the prostate.

Intramedullary Spinal Cord Metastases: An Uncommon Pathway

  • Prostatic cancer commonly spreads to bones and lymph nodes, but intramedullary spinal cord metastases are extremely rare, occurring in less than 2.1% of cancer patients based on autopsy reports.
  • Most cases present with neurological deficits, making this bicytopenia-first presentation particularly unusual.
  • Treatment options vary, including radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), surgery, and hormone therapy, though no standardized guidelines exist for ISCM management.

Further Reading and Resources

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