[Intradural spinal metastasis from visceral neoplasms. Apropos of 4 cases. Review of the literature].

Four patients were referred during the last year for treatment of an intradural metastasis. Primary sites were a bronchogenic carcinoma (one case), a prostatic carcinoma (one case) and in the two other cases the primary tumor was not found. In all cases Noot pain had lasted 1 to 5 months, despite CT examination during this painful period. Except in case n.4, diagnosis was not established until the onset of myelopathy. Surgical removal was complete in one case and subtotal in the three other cases, with complete postoperative relief of the pain in all cases and significative improvement of neurological status. The authors emphasize the importance of root pain as an early sign in these patients as well as the difficulty in establishing diagnosis. They discuss the different pathogenic mechanisms and the methods of treatment.