Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2012 , Vol 58 , Num 1

Coexistence of Brachial Plexus and Cervical Spine Metastases in a Patient With Breast Cancer: Case Report

Ece Ünlü 1 ,Sevgi Polat 1 ,Ebru Umay 2 ,Aytül Çakcı 1
1 Sağlık Bakanlığı Ankara Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye
2 Sağlık Bakanlığı Kütahya Yoncalı Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Hastanesi, Kütahya, Türkiye
DOI : 10.4274/tftr.82574

Metastatic involvement of the brachial plexus is a rare condition and is most commonly associated with breast cancer. In patients with breast cancer, brachial plexus metastases should be taken into account in case of severe pain spreading to the shoulder and arm followed by sensory and motor symptoms. Metastatic spinal tumors are the most common type of tumors of the spine. Breast cancer accounts for 21% of all vertebral metastases. Therefore, metastatic spinal tumors should principally be considered in patients with history of malignancy. Coexistence of two metastatic involvements in same patient is the rarest condition. In this case report, we present a patient with a history of breast cancer who was admitted with complaints of severe pain and weakness in the left shoulder, and in whom we detected metastases in both the brachial plexus and the cervical spine. In addition, within the framework of this case report, we aimed to emphasize the importance of electrophysiological studies in detecting two metastaticlesions.

Keywords : Breast cancer, metastasis of cervical spine, metastasis of brachial plexus, ENMG