Isolated Metastatic Barrett’s Adenocarcinoma of the Thoracic Epidural Space Causing Paraplegia

Barrett’s adenocarcinoma is an esophageal cancer arising from Barrett’s esophagus. In this report, a metastatic epidural tumor from Barrett’s adenocarcinoma with paraplegia that required surgical treatment is documented. A 50-year-old man who had had a resection of the distal esophagus due to Barrett’s adenocarcinoma six month before presented with progressive weakness and numbness in lower limbs with urinary disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic region revealed compression of the spinal cord at the T3-4 level by a dorsally located epidural mass. No signal changes were detected in vertebrae. Since the paraplegia and urinary disturbance were rapidly progressing, laminectomy and tumor resection was performed. Postoperatively, neurological function improved immediately and there was no recurrence of spinal region. This is the first report on an isolated metastatic Barrett’s adenocarcinoma of the thoracic epidural space.