Metastatic paraganglioma causing spinal cord compression.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Paragangliomas are neoplasms that arise from the autonomic nervous system-associated paraganglia. Most often they are benign tumors. However, infrequently they have been reported to metastasize. Involvement of the spine is rare and usually is intradural at the level of the cauda equina.

OBJECTIVES

The authors report two cases of metastatic paraganglioma to the spine, both of which resulted in myelopathy from extradural spinal cord compression. Also provided is a review of the literature.

CONCLUSIONS

Paragangliomas rarely metastasize to the spine. Management of the two reported patients involved spinal cord decompression followed by spinal stabilization procedures. Long-term ambulatory status was maintained in both patients. Radiation therapy may be an important adjunctive treatment after surgical removal of these tumors.