Gradual Recovery from Nonambulatory Quadriparesis Caused by Metastatic Epidural Cervical Cord Compression in an Octogenarian Gallbladder Carcinoma Patient Treated with Image-Guided Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Alone Using a Field-in-Field Technique

Radiotherapy for acute metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) involves conventional techniques and dose fractionation schemes, as it needs to be initiated quickly. However, even with rapid intervention, few paraplegic patients regain ambulation. Here, we describe the case of a mid-octog...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kazuhiro Ohtakara, Hiroaki Hoshi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/398208
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832556004803346432
author Kazuhiro Ohtakara
Hiroaki Hoshi
author_facet Kazuhiro Ohtakara
Hiroaki Hoshi
author_sort Kazuhiro Ohtakara
collection DOAJ
description Radiotherapy for acute metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) involves conventional techniques and dose fractionation schemes, as it needs to be initiated quickly. However, even with rapid intervention, few paraplegic patients regain ambulation. Here, we describe the case of a mid-octogenarian who presented with severe pain and nonambulatory quadriparesis attributable to MESCC at the fifth cervical vertebra, which developed 10 months after the diagnosis of undifferentiated carcinoma of the gallbladder. Image-guided three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (IG-3DCRT) was started with 25 Gy in 5 fractions followed by a boost of 12 Gy in 3 fractions, for which a field-in-field (FIF) technique was used to optimize the dose distribution. Despite the fact that steroids were not administered, the patient reported significant pain reduction and showed improved motor function 3 and 4 weeks after the IG-3DCRT, respectively. Over the following 4 months, her neurological function gradually improved, and she was consequently able to eat and change clothes without assistance and to walk slowly for 10–20 m using a walker. She succumbed to progression of abdominal disease 8.5 months after the IG-3DCRT. This case demonstrates that image-guided FIF radiotherapy with a dose-escalated hypofractionated regimen can potentially improve functional outcome and local control.
format Article
id doaj-art-98a22d9895ab4d789373e6ee23c9a06e
institution Kabale University
issn 2090-6706
2090-6714
language English
publishDate 2014-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
spelling doaj-art-98a22d9895ab4d789373e6ee23c9a06e2025-02-03T05:46:40ZengWileyCase Reports in Oncological Medicine2090-67062090-67142014-01-01201410.1155/2014/398208398208Gradual Recovery from Nonambulatory Quadriparesis Caused by Metastatic Epidural Cervical Cord Compression in an Octogenarian Gallbladder Carcinoma Patient Treated with Image-Guided Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Alone Using a Field-in-Field TechniqueKazuhiro Ohtakara0Hiroaki Hoshi1Department of Radiation Oncology, Murakami Memorial Hospital, Asahi University, 3-23 Hashimoto-cho, Gifu 500-8523, JapanDepartment of Radiology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, JapanRadiotherapy for acute metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) involves conventional techniques and dose fractionation schemes, as it needs to be initiated quickly. However, even with rapid intervention, few paraplegic patients regain ambulation. Here, we describe the case of a mid-octogenarian who presented with severe pain and nonambulatory quadriparesis attributable to MESCC at the fifth cervical vertebra, which developed 10 months after the diagnosis of undifferentiated carcinoma of the gallbladder. Image-guided three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (IG-3DCRT) was started with 25 Gy in 5 fractions followed by a boost of 12 Gy in 3 fractions, for which a field-in-field (FIF) technique was used to optimize the dose distribution. Despite the fact that steroids were not administered, the patient reported significant pain reduction and showed improved motor function 3 and 4 weeks after the IG-3DCRT, respectively. Over the following 4 months, her neurological function gradually improved, and she was consequently able to eat and change clothes without assistance and to walk slowly for 10–20 m using a walker. She succumbed to progression of abdominal disease 8.5 months after the IG-3DCRT. This case demonstrates that image-guided FIF radiotherapy with a dose-escalated hypofractionated regimen can potentially improve functional outcome and local control.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/398208
spellingShingle Kazuhiro Ohtakara
Hiroaki Hoshi
Gradual Recovery from Nonambulatory Quadriparesis Caused by Metastatic Epidural Cervical Cord Compression in an Octogenarian Gallbladder Carcinoma Patient Treated with Image-Guided Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Alone Using a Field-in-Field Technique
Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
title Gradual Recovery from Nonambulatory Quadriparesis Caused by Metastatic Epidural Cervical Cord Compression in an Octogenarian Gallbladder Carcinoma Patient Treated with Image-Guided Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Alone Using a Field-in-Field Technique
title_full Gradual Recovery from Nonambulatory Quadriparesis Caused by Metastatic Epidural Cervical Cord Compression in an Octogenarian Gallbladder Carcinoma Patient Treated with Image-Guided Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Alone Using a Field-in-Field Technique
title_fullStr Gradual Recovery from Nonambulatory Quadriparesis Caused by Metastatic Epidural Cervical Cord Compression in an Octogenarian Gallbladder Carcinoma Patient Treated with Image-Guided Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Alone Using a Field-in-Field Technique
title_full_unstemmed Gradual Recovery from Nonambulatory Quadriparesis Caused by Metastatic Epidural Cervical Cord Compression in an Octogenarian Gallbladder Carcinoma Patient Treated with Image-Guided Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Alone Using a Field-in-Field Technique
title_short Gradual Recovery from Nonambulatory Quadriparesis Caused by Metastatic Epidural Cervical Cord Compression in an Octogenarian Gallbladder Carcinoma Patient Treated with Image-Guided Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Alone Using a Field-in-Field Technique
title_sort gradual recovery from nonambulatory quadriparesis caused by metastatic epidural cervical cord compression in an octogenarian gallbladder carcinoma patient treated with image guided three dimensional conformal radiotherapy alone using a field in field technique
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/398208
work_keys_str_mv AT kazuhiroohtakara gradualrecoveryfromnonambulatoryquadriparesiscausedbymetastaticepiduralcervicalcordcompressioninanoctogenariangallbladdercarcinomapatienttreatedwithimageguidedthreedimensionalconformalradiotherapyaloneusingafieldinfieldtechnique
AT hiroakihoshi gradualrecoveryfromnonambulatoryquadriparesiscausedbymetastaticepiduralcervicalcordcompressioninanoctogenariangallbladdercarcinomapatienttreatedwithimageguidedthreedimensionalconformalradiotherapyaloneusingafieldinfieldtechnique