TESTICULAR TERATOMA METASTASIZING TO THE SPINE

¹ SYRACUSE, NEW YORK

From a review of the literature, it was found that teratomata with this type of metastasis—teratoma of the right testicle with metastasis to the vertebrae, paravertebral structures, and spinal cord—are rare. The unusual features in this case are as follows:

1. The length of time the mass in the testicle had been known to have existed (six years).

2. Trauma sufficient to cause a compression fracture of the spine preceded the onset of symptoms.

3. Absence of evidence of invasion of the central or peripheral nervous systems up to the time the compression fracture was reduced.

4. Absence of evidence of involvement of bone or the spinal cord at the time of the first laminectomy.

5. Lack of roentgenographic evidence of the true pathological nature of the involved vertebrae at the first examination.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Technorati    What's this?