The detrimental effect of neck pain followed by solitary plasmacytoma resulting in spontaneous quadriplegia: a case report

Abstract

After complaining of neck pain for 3 weeks, a 36-year-old man suddenly become quadriplegic during a massage session in a traditional Turkish bath. He was immediately transferred to hospital, where the initial examination consisting in plain radiography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a compression fracture of the fourth cervical vertebra. The patient was immediately treated by anterior vertebral decompression and bone grafting from the iliac crest. Unfortunately, the patient did not respond to surgical intervention and died. Solitary plasmacytoma of the fourth cervical vertebrae was detected at autopsy during forensic examination. Pain and spinal cord compression resulted from solitary plasmacytoma of the vertebral column. However, paralysis, especially quadriplegia, occurs seldom. In this case report, solitary plasmacytoma of the vertebral column associated with neck pain is presented with the relevant pathological and clinical aspects.