Spinal cord compression presumably due to metastasized cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma to the thoracic spine.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) frequently metastasizes to lymph nodes, but metastasis to the spine is rare. We report a case of cutaneous SCC with metastasis to a particularly rare region, the thoracic spine, which evolved into a spinal cord compression. In November 2005, a 73-year-old man underwent a resection of a primary tumor and standard inguinal lymphadenectomy for a cutaneous SCC of the right fourth toe, defined as T2N1M1 stage. Over the next 3 years, he was given peplomycin, CAV (cisplatin, adriamycin, and vindesine) therapy and radiotherapy for multiple lymph node metastases. In September 2008, he complained of back pain and urinary retention. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine showed the presence of masses in the vertebral body, which compressed the spinal cord. Blood examination revealed an elevated level of serum SCC antigen. After irradiation and chemotherapy, the patient's complaint was relieved and the level of serum SCC antigen concomitantly declined. Spinal metastasis is one of the items to be kept in mind during the follow-up of patients with cutaneous SCC.