Aggressive Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma With Asymptomatic Spinal Cord Compression Revealed By A "Curtain Sign"

Authors

  • Juliette Thariat
  • Laure S. Fournier
  • Cécile Badoual
  • Pierre-Yves Marcy
  • Martin Housset

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3941/jrcr.v2i1.3

Keywords:

metastasis, Trolard membrane, curtain sign, epidural, vertebral body, ligament, dura

Abstract

The author presents a case with an unusually aggressive evolution of an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck. The patient presented with sciatica one year after initial diagnosis. She was otherwise asymptomatic. Complete work-up for bone involvement, included bone scan and MRI. The patient had asymptomatic thoracic (T5) vertebral metastasis revealed by a typical curtain sign on MRI. She benefited from radiotherapy and did not develop respiratory distress, paraplegia or pain but died of other metastases.

Author Biographies

Juliette Thariat

MD

Department of Radiation Oncology, Anticancer Research Institute Antoine Lacassagne. 33 Av. Valombrose. 06189 Nice Cedex 2 (FRANCE).

Phone:       +33 (0)4 92 03 12 72

Fax:           +33 (0)4 92 03 15 70

Cell Phone: +33 (0)6 73 92 71 69

 

Laure S. Fournier

MD, PhD

Service de Radiologie, Hí´pital Européen Georges Pompidou, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris (FRANCE)..

Cécile Badoual

MD, PhD

Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, Hí´pital Européen Georges Pompidou, 20-40 rue Leblanc, 75908 Paris Cedex 15 (FRANCE)..

Pierre-Yves Marcy

MD

Department of Radiodiagnostics and Interventional Radiology, Anticancer Research Institute Antoine Lacassagne, 33 Avenue Valombrose, 06189, Nice Cedex 2 (FRANCE).

Martin Housset

MD

Service d'oncoradiothérapie, hí´pital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris (FRANCE).

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Published

2008-08-14

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2008)

Section

Neuroradiology

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