Paraplegia: an unusual presentation of Ewing's sarcoma.

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: Single-subject case. OBJECTIVES: To describe the atypical presentation of a rare tumor and difficulties in diagnosis. SETTING: Spinal cord unit of a rehabilitation and care center in Ankara, Turkey. METHODS: A 22-year-old male patient with paraplegia was admitted to our center for rehabilitation. He underwent various diagnostic procedures to explain his clinical situation. RESULTS: Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography revealed a mass and vertebral destruction. The pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma. CONCLUSION: Spinal cord compression is an important complication of primary or metastatic malignant tumors. Although it is a late complication in most cases, some tumors including Ewing's sarcoma may present with paraplegia. Trauma may be found in the patient's history. An atypical clinical course in a musculoskeletal or neurological condition should alert us to a possible underlying malignant disease.