Pathogenesis of vertebral metastasis and epidural spinal cord compression

Abstract

The authors have studied the sequential events in the process of vertebral metastasis that result in spinal cord compression. Different tumor cell lines were injected into the systemic arterial circulation of syngeneic or nude mice, and they were killed at timed intervals after injection or when they became paraplegic. The following observations were made. The tumor cells lodged and grew in the hematopoietic bone marrow of the vertebrae. Cancer cells in the vertebral marrow cavity invaded into the spinal canal through the foramina of the vertebral veins rather than destroying the cortical bone. Tumor cell lines that grew in an infiltrative fashion migrated toward a posterior location in the spinal canal, and compressed the spinal cord from a posterior direction. Tumor cell lines that grew as compact tumors formed a tumor mass at the same location from which the cells emerged from the vertebra, and compressed the cord predominantly from an anterior direction. Radiographic evidence of vertebral metastasis was a late event, and commonly associated with significant compression of the cord and extraosseous tumor. These experimental findings may help to establish better diagnostic and treatment strategies for patients with metastatic disease of the spine.

The route of metastatic vertebral tumors extending to the adjacent vertebral body: a histological study

“…that it leads the tumor to this part of the vertebral body. 11 The other explanation is that the main part of the PLL has an hourglass shape. 5 Therefore the middle portion of the PLL is the narrowest and weakest point.…”

Establishing a Rabbit Spinal Tumor Model for Nonvascular Interventional Therapy through CT-Guided Percutaneous Puncture Inoculation

“…18,19 However, the rat vertebra is small, making it difficult to accommodate a thick needle in various nonvascular interventional treatments (such as PVP, radiofrequency ablation) by using a percutaneous puncture technique. Recent rabbit models of spinal tumors created by different surgical methods requiring more experimental techniques and more advanced equipment also sustained even greater trauma, which is not helpful for conducting the ensuing experiments.…”

Myelopathy associated with cervical epidural spinal metastasis of follicular-compact thyroid carcinoma in two dogs

“…For thyroid tumors, the route of dissemination from the thyroid to the spine is through the blood vessels, with venous spread or direct arterial embolization of the tumor cells (RAMADAN et al, 2012). Some authors report that in animals, arterial embolization is the most common and important route of spinal metastases (ARGUELLO et al, 1990). The vertebral body (85%) is the most common site of initial involvement, followed by the paravertebral space (10-15%) and the epidural space Ciência Rural, v.45, n.8, ago, 2015.…”