Cranial nerve palsy revealing an occipitovertebral metastasis from carcinoma of the uterine cervix

A 37-year-old woman had a histologically documented occipitovertebral metas tasis from an invasive epidermoid carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The meta stasis was found 3 months after the primary and was treated by local radiat ion therapy followed by systemic chemotherapy. Radiation therapy was highly effective in relieving the pain but was not associated with changes in mag netic resonance imaging findings. Lymph node involvement and local extensio n occurred. The patient died 1 year after the diagnosis of the metastasis. Involvement of the occipitovertebral junction by uterine cervix carcinoma m etastasis is exceedingly rare. The relevant literature is reviewed. Joint B one Spine 2001 ; 68 : 170-4. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales E lsevier SAS.