Abstract
We propose that pelvic malignancies can spread to bone and cause bony metastases using nerves as conduits. We reviewed two cases of pelvic malignancy with perineural spread of bladder cancer and prostate cancer. In a patient with prostate cancer, we identified six lesions that were positive on the 11C-choline PET/CT scan and MRI; in a patient with bladder cancer, we identified two lesions positive on the 18F-deoxy-glucose PET/CT scan and MRI. We carefully reviewed the imaging studies, and using established sclerotome maps we identified spinal nerves supplying each of eight pelvic bony lesions. All these spinal nerves showed evidence of tumor infiltration with extension toward the affected bones. We theorize that perineural tumor spread may serve as an additional mechanism of pelvic osseous metastases in pelvic malignancies.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1365-1370 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Skeletal Radiology |
Volume | 44 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 27 2015 |
Keywords
- Bladder cancer
- Bone metastasis
- Perineural spread
- Prostate cancer
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging