Aggressive Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma With Asymptomatic Spinal Cord Compression Revealed By A “Curtain Sign”

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.

Keywords

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