Paravertebral and epidural sarcoma with spinal cord compression in a child: Case report and review of the literature

Spinal cord compression is a rare but serious complication of malignancy in the children. Sarcoma presented with epidural mass, and spinal cord compression is very rare. We present a case of paraspinal and epidural rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) causing acute spinal cord compression. Parents of an 18-month-old male child brought him with complaints that the child had difficulty in standing and he was unable to walk. There was a soft swelling on the upper back. Ultrasonography was done which showed a soft tissue mass. Radiograph also showed a swelling on the upper back. Magnetic resonance imaging was advised for further evaluation, and it was detected an epidural and left paraspinal mass which was causing severe spinal cord compression. Diagnosis of sarcoma was suggested; differential diagnosis of RMS and Ewing′s sarcoma was given. Biopsy was done, and it showed RMS. Partial excision of epidural mass was done, and then chemotherapy and radiotherapy was done