Incidental Intraspinal Tumor Detection during Treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome : A case report

Yoon, Jin Sun; Sim, Woo Seok; Shin, Young Hee; Kim, Tae Hyeong; Lee, Sang Min; Lee, Yong Ho; Ryu, Keon Hee

Case Report

Spinal Pain

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2008;3(1):7-11.
Published online January 30, 2008.

Incidental Intraspinal Tumor Detection during Treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome : A case report

Jin Sun Yoon, Woo Seok Sim, Young Hee Shin, Tae Hyeong Kim, Sang Min Lee, Yong Ho Lee, Keon Hee Ryu

¹Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. anesthe@smc.samsung.co.kr
²Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Differential diagnosis of posterior neck and occipital pain is difficult based on symptoms and physical examination only. We report a case of patient who complained of pain in the posterior neck and occiput, with the initial diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome, but who did not improve with conventional treatments. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cervical intraspinal tumor, and the patient developed subsequent motor weakness and sensory changes. Comprehensive diagnostic approaches are strongly recommended when the patient manifests symptoms unresponsive to treatment.

Key Words: intraspinal tumor, myofascial pain, neck pain