Oncological Emergencies Dr. Gary Harding md, frcpc

The severity of weakness is greatest with thoracic metastases

Third Red Flag: Sensory

• Less common than motor findings

• Still present in majority of cases

• Ascending numbness and parathesias

Fourth Red Flag: Bladder and Bowel Function

• Loss is late finding

• Autonomic neuropathy presents usually as urinary retension

• Rarely sole finding

Radiologic Investigation

Diagnosis depends on ability to demonstrate a mass compressing the thecal sac

• Diagnosis depends on ability to demonstrate a mass compressing the thecal sac

• Plain radiographs are not enough

• Historically this involved invasive procedures

• Advent of MRI has allowed non-invasive diagnosis

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