Inexplicable Abdominal Pain due to Thoracic Spinal Cord Tumor

Abstract

Chronic, refractory abdominal pain without a metabolic or structural gastroenterological etiology can be challenging for diagnosis and management. Even though it is rare, it has been reported that such a recurrent abdominal pain associated with radicular pattern can be derived from structural neurologic lesion like spinal cord tumor. We experienced an unusual case of chronic recurrent abdominal pain that lasted for two years without definite neurologic deficits in a patient, who has been harboring thoracic spinal cord tumor. During an extensive gastroenterological workup for the abdominal pain, the spinal cord tumor had been found and was resected through surgery. Since then, the inexplicable pain sustained over a long period of time eventually resolved. This case highlights the importance of taking into consideration the possibility of spinal cord tumor in differential diagnosis when a patient complains of chronic and recurrent abdominal pain without other medical abnormalities.

Unspecific clinical manifestation of cauda equina myxopapillary ependymoma

“…In rare cases, the only sign of a tumor of the thoracic spinal cord is a pain in the abdomen. [ 11 ] In the present case, abdominal pain differed by the presence of vomiting.…”

Abdominal pain related to pathology of peripheral nervous system

“…Боль может быть перемежающейся или постоянной, пациенты описывают ее как «удары током», жгучую, стреляющую, коликообразную; не всегда отмечается связь боли с положением тела. Сгибание шеи может вызывать усиление боли [28,29]. При дискогенной торакальной радикулопатии возможны и двигательные нарушения.…”