Open AccessSpinal cord compression: to biopsy, or not to biopsy?
Author(s) -
Gulraj S. Matharu,
Daisy Wilson,
Vaiyapuri P. Sumathi,
Tehreem F. Butt
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr.03.2009.1657
Subject(s) - medicine , biopsy , spinal cord compression , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology , radiation therapy , lymphoma , spinal cord , surgery , decompression , methotrexate , pathology , psychiatry
A patient presenting with acute spinal cord compression initially thought to be secondary to metastatic cancer based on magnetic resonance imaging alone is described. No primary tumour was identified on further imaging, and although deemed to be technically very difficult, surgical decompression was postponed in favour of obtaining a histological diagnosis. Histology confirmed a low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a diagnosis which would not have been considered had a biopsy not been undertaken. The correct curative treatment was subsequently initiated, and the patient responded well to localised radiotherapy and intrathecal methotrexate.