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How do you approach the management of a patient with lumbar spinal metastasis with neurologic symptoms but without evidence of spinal cord compression?

In a patient with metastatic cancer to the lumbar spine and epidural disease on CT who presents back pain and leg weakness: Is a whole spine MRI indicated? Within how many hours should palliative RT be completed?
1 Answer
Mednet Member
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Radiation Oncology · University of Arizona
Answered on

From the brief description included, it appears that the lesion is at the level of the cauda equina, a group of nerves and nerve roots stemming from the distal end of the spinal cord, typically levels of L1-L5, and contains axons of nerves that give both motor and sensory innervation to the legs, bl...

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