Thoracic Cord Compression by epidural Multiple Myeloma: A Rare Presentation of Multiple Myeloma

Abstract

Multiple myeloma is a hematopoietic disorder and multicentric disease, with the most common localization being the spine. A 53-year-old male presented with progressive paraplegia, superficial and deep sensory disturbance below the level of T2. Spinal magnetic resonance image showed an epidural mass compressing the spinal cord at the level of T1 with intact bone structure. The patient underwent surgical posterior spinal decompression. Microscopic examination and immuno-histochemical studies confirmed the diagnosis of multiple myeloma of kappa subtype. The patient was subsequently started on steroids and chemotherapy for myeloma.Extra osseous epidural tumors causing compression myelopathy without evidence of destruction or collapse of vertebral bodies are relatively rare; to our knowledge very few cases exist in the literature.