Transcatheter arterial embolization for relapsed spinal metastatic paraganglioma: A case report

Spinal metastasis is a rare presentation of paraganglioma and an effective therapy for nonresectable spinal metastatic paraganglioma (MPG) has not yet been established. We report the case of a 42-year-old woman with metastatic spinal cord compression caused by a relapsed spinal MPG after decompressive surgery. We performed transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in addition to systemic chemotherapy. After TAE, the neurologic symptoms improved, and the back pain was reduced. After 3 sessions of TAE, MRI revealed that the tumor at the level of the seventh thoracic vertebra had shrunk and the pressure on spinal cord had decreased. TAE might be a feasible treatment option for spinal MPG, even after surgery or irradiation.