Malignant phyllodes tumour with spinal metastasis presenting as cauda equina syndrome.
Osman Mahboob, Yujin Suk, Mona Bishara et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A female in her early 50s with a history of borderline phyllodes tumour underwent right mastectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy. Two years later, she presented with progressive lower back and bilateral leg pain, which was found to be due to severe spinal canal compression from an L4 vertebral lesion, leading to cauda equina syndrome. Surgical intervention included decompression, biopsy, and spinal fusion, confirming metastatic malignant phyllodes tumour.
What made this case unusual
Spinal metastases from malignant phyllodes tumours are exceptionally rare, with few cases documented in the literature.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider spinal metastases in patients with a history of phyllodes tumour who present with back pain, as this can indicate aggressive disease progression.
Why it matters
Recognizing the potential for distant metastasis in malignant phyllodes tumours is crucial for timely diagnosis and management, particularly in atypical presentations.