Late intramedullary spinal metastases from esthesioneuroblastoma: case report and prognostic implications

Introduction: Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is an uncommon neuroectodermal tumor that originates from the olfactory mucosa and often recurs locally. Distant metastases of ENB have been described, but there are few reports of intramedullary metastases to the spinal cord.

Presentation of case: Here, we report a case of a patient presenting with a progressive paraparesis and MRI findings of multiple drop metastases to thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord, 17 years after diagnosis and treatment for an intracranial ENB with subsequent neck nodal metastases. The dorsal symptomatic lesion was treated with resection, radiotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Discussion: The implications of spinal metastases for the clinical prognosis of this disease are discussed, with a review of the few reported cases of spinal ENB metastases in the literature.

Conclusions: Through the presentation of this case we hope to further contribute to a better understanding of this rare disease's prognosis.

Keywords: Cedar-Sinai classification; Estesioneuroblastoma; olfactory neuroblastoma; prognosis; spinal metastases.