Metastatic Nerve Root Tumor: A Case Report And Literature Review

Nerve root metastasis of cancer has been rarely reported. We herein report the case of a cervical cancer patient with metastasis to peripheral nerve roots. A 47 year-old woman with cervical squamous cell carcinoma was admitted to our department with a 6-month history of right leg pain, and was investigated for cancer recurrence. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed lymph node metastasis near the right iliac blood vessels; the patient was then treated with chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin. However, the pain worsened and the muscle strength of her right leg decreased. On positron emission tomography.computed tomography scans, the sacral plexus L5.S1 and L4.5 nerves appeared thickened, suggesting nerve metastases. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy was applied, with notable clinical benefit. However, the patient succumbed to the disease 3 months later.