Clear cell sarcoma at D12-L1 paraspinal region: A reported case and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Clear cell sarcoma is a very rare malignant tumor originating from neural crest cells, the tumor most commonly affects the lower limbs but there have been few cases reported to affect the trunk and para spinal area. Patients with Para spinal sarcoma have a variety of clinical presentations and a variable prognosis depending on several prognostic factors including tumor size. CASE PRESENTATION: A 14-year-old male patient presented with paraplegia for one month duration and he was diagnosed later on to have a paraspinal clear cell sarcoma at D12-L1 level. A wide local excision was made and patient was referred for oncology treatment. However, the patient came back to the same hospital after two months due to the recurrence of the tumor at the same site. CONCLUSION: Clear cell sarcoma, although rare, can affect the spine and present with weakness, paraplegia and backache. It also affects people from all age groups and can have a high metastatic rate and a high recurrence rate.