1 / 5

Recognizing Cancer vs. Degenerative Spine Pain: Importance of Early MRI and Referral

Misdiagnosing cancer-related spinal pain as degenerative issues can lead to serious consequences. This highlights the critical need for early referrals and increased MRI utilization to detect metastatic conditions. Patients, such as a 62-year-old female experiencing progressive lower back pain with radiation to the left hip, may exhibit no prior malignancy history. It’s crucial to maintain a high index of suspicion and inquire about previous malignancies, as about 20% of metastatic cases present without known primary cancers. Prompt diagnosis can significantly alter treatment outcomes.

cara-cardenas
Download Presentation

Recognizing Cancer vs. Degenerative Spine Pain: Importance of Early MRI and Referral

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Diagnostic Pitfalls • Cancer and metastasis of the spine can mimic degenerative back and neck pain • Early referral and early and wider use of MRI scans is essential to avoid missing serious pathology • High Index of suspicion vital. Always ask history of previous malignancy • 20% have no history of a primary malignancy

  2. PC. F=62. • C/o LBPx 6 months • Progressively worse • Radiates to left hip and thigh area • No red flags • Pain increased on sitting an walking • Still at work

  3. PC. F=62 • O/E: Tender Left L3-5 area • SLR on left +ve at 60 degrees • Left SI joint tender • Reduced sensation left leg

  4. PC. Xrays. Narrowing L45 Disc space Early OA in Left Hip Rx- Physio, Pain killers, Exercise programs Not settling

  5. PC. MRI Scans Metastasis at T5, T8 and L1, with bulging at T5. ? Left Hip pain referred from L1 area No known Primary Treated by radiotherapy.

More Related