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Handbook of Hematologic and Oncologic Emergencies pp 61–67Cite as

Epidural Spinal Cord Compression

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Abstract

Epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) is a medical emergency that can lead to paraplegia and loss of bowel and bladder function. It is characterized clinically by:

  1. 1.

    Back pain and tenderness

  2. 2.

    Radicular pain

  3. 3.

    Myelopathy

Diagnosis is made by:

  1. 1.

    Clinical history and examination

  2. 2.

    Radiographic studies:

  3. a.

    Bone films

  4. b.

    Bone scan

  5. c.

    Myelopathy

Emergency treatment is with:

  1. 1.

    Dexamethasone, 100 mg IV

  2. 2.

    Emergency radiation therapy

  3. 3.

    Possible surgical decompression

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Selected Readings

  • Gilbert RW, Kim J-H, Posner JB: Epidural spinal cord compression from metastatic tumor Diagnosis and treatment. Ann Neurol 3: 40–51, 1978.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Portenoy RK, Lipton, RB, Foley KM: Back pain in cancer patients: An algorithm for management. Neurology 37: 134–138, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unified Pain Service, Montefiore Medical Center; Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, 10467, USA

    Ronald Kanner M.D.

Authors
  1. Ronald Kanner M.D.
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 10461, Bronx, New York, USA

    Janice P. Dutcher M.D. (Associate Professor of Medicine) (Associate Professor of Medicine)

  2. Department of Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, 10461, Bronx, New York, USA

    Janice P. Dutcher M.D. (Associate Professor of Medicine) (Associate Professor of Medicine)

  3. Department of Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, 10467, Bronx, New York, USA

    Peter H. Wiernik M.D. (Gutman Professor and Chairman, Director, Associate Director for Clinical Research) (Gutman Professor and Chairman, Director, Associate Director for Clinical Research)

  4. Division of Medical Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 10467, Bronx, New York, USA

    Peter H. Wiernik M.D. (Gutman Professor and Chairman, Director, Associate Director for Clinical Research) (Gutman Professor and Chairman, Director, Associate Director for Clinical Research)

  5. Albert Einstein Cancer Center, 10467, Bronx, New York, USA

    Peter H. Wiernik M.D. (Gutman Professor and Chairman, Director, Associate Director for Clinical Research) (Gutman Professor and Chairman, Director, Associate Director for Clinical Research)

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© 1987 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Kanner, R. (1987). Epidural Spinal Cord Compression. In: Dutcher, J.P., Wiernik, P.H. (eds) Handbook of Hematologic and Oncologic Emergencies. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0476-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0476-8_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0478-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0476-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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