A RARE CASE OF RHABDOMYOSARCOMA PRESENTING AS AN INTRADURAL SPINAL TUMOR

Spinal cord compression is a very serious complication of malignancy in adults. A Sarcoma presenting with an epiduralmass, and spinal cord compression is very rare. We report a case of a 29 year old female patient who presented to us with para-spinal and epidural rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) causingspinal cord compression and a complete brachial plexopathy. She came with a 15 month history of right upper limb pain and weakness, neck mass associated with neck pain and a 2 week history of bilateral lower limb weakness associated with urine and stool incontinence. Imaging studies showed a large lobulated intra-dural and extra-medullary enhancing dumbbell-shaped tumor at C6/C7 levels compressing the spinal cord at that level .There was a right supraclavicular mass with central necrosis and involving the exiting regions of the spine. There was a syrinx in the spinal cord above the level of the lession extending up-to C2. The patient was taken for laminectomy and durotomy and excision of the intra-dural portion of the tumor. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. After surgery there was improvement in signs and symptoms. Unfortunately she died while still waiting for the second stage of the operation to excise the extra-spinal tumor component.