Unusual Presentation of Thoracic Epidural Ewing Sarcoma in a 20-Year-Old Patient: A Case Report

TL;DR

A 20-year-old patient with a rare case of thoracic epidural Ewing sarcoma showed significant recovery after surgery and treatment.

Contribution

This case report highlights an unusual presentation of Ewing sarcoma with epidural spinal cord compression and successful treatment outcomes.

Findings

The patient showed significant improvement in gait six months post-treatment.

Emergency surgery and adjuvant therapies led to satisfactory recovery.

Epidural Ewing sarcoma with spinal cord compression is a rare clinical presentation.

Abstract

The aim of this case report is to present a rare case of epidural Ewing sarcoma with spinal cord compression, which is an uncommon presentation of this tumor.

Ewing's sarcoma is a primary malignant tumor predominantly affecting individuals in their second decade of life, primarily impacting those aged 10 to 25, with the average age of onset being around 20 years. Epidemiological studies reveal that this cancer most commonly arises in the diaphyses of the long tubular bones in the lower extremities. Spinal involvement, however, is exceedingly uncommon.

A case of sacral type of Ewing's sarcoma, with the most common localization of the primary spinal sarcomas and an extremely aggressive course, has been described in the literature. Other localizations of Ewing's sarcoma located in other areas of the spine are also presented. Even rarer are cases in which the tumor formation is located epidurally and exhibits marked medullary compression and absent neurological symptoms.

We present the case of a 20-year-old patient who was admitted to the neurology department with symptoms of lower flaccid paraparesis and pelvic-reservoir dysfunction, specifically urinary retention for 16-17 hours, after which a catheter was added. MRI revealed an epidural tumor spanning TH5-TH7 vertebral levels, causing significant spinal cord compression. A CT scan of the chest identified a tumor on the left side at the level of the sixth rib, featuring soft tissue involvement, rib destruction, lung invasion, and a small pleural effusion.

Due to the critical neurological symptoms, the patient underwent emergency surgery in the neurosurgical department, which included thoracic laminectomies, maximal possible tumor resection, and effective spinal cord decompression. Postoperative period was uneventful. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of Ewing's epidural sarcoma. The patient subsequently received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Six months post-treatment, the patient demonstrated a satisfactory overall condition with significant improvement in gait and continues to undergo chemotherapy courses.

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