Introduction

Spine is the most common site of bone metastasis. The occurrence of cervical spine metastasis is less common than thoracic or lumbar spine metastasis. This spinal metastasis can be osteosclerotic or osteolytic. To recognise spinal metastasis radiographically, 30–50% of the vertebral body must be involved [1]. Thirty percent of cervical spine metastasis had a primary breast malignancy [2]. Patients with cervical metastasis have a higher mortality due to advanced stage of the malignancy. Although the incidence of skeletal metastasis in breast carcinoma is 30% with the possibility of prolonged survival, little importance has been given to metastasis of the odontoid process [2]. Odontoid fractures in patients with metastatic carcinoma of the breast are rare. The clinical findings lag behind the radiographic abnormalities. Prompt treatment can relieve symptoms and avoid late sequelae; therefore the recognition of this potentially lethal complication is of prime importance. Treatment is palliative to relieve pain, prevent pathological fracture, improve mobility and function, and prolong survival.

Case report

A 40-year-old woman presented to the accident and emergency department with neck and shoulder pain of 1 week duration with no radiation and neurological deficit. Following clinical examination, radiographs of the cervical spine were normal. She was discharged home on analgesics. She presented 3 weeks later with increasing intensity of pain. On further review of history, she had been diagnosed with carcinoma of the left breast 7 years earlier, for which she had wide local excision followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She had axillary recurrence after 3 years, for which she had complete remission on chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. Following further recurrence in the left axilla, the patient underwent left mastectomy and axillary clearance. Histology revealed high-grade invasive mixed lobular carcinoma and malignant cell infiltration of axillary soft tissue.

Radiographs were repeated, which revealed a large lytic lesion of the odontoid occupying 70–80% of the peg. As per Harrington’s criteria, it was a class II lesion [1]. The cervical spine was immobilised and a computed tomography (CT) scan was performed, which revealed no pathological fracture of the odontoid peg but confirmed the lytic lesion. On further investigations of the spine, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and bone scintigram, no other spinal lesions were noted. She underwent cyclical radiotherapy following review by the oncologist. At a year’s follow-up radiographs revealed complete resolution of the odontoid peg lesion and the woman was clinically asymptomatic. Consent was provided by the patient to publish this clinical report.

Discussion

Vertebral metastases often are asymptomatic and may be discovered only by routine bone scans. Symptoms often develop due to: (1) increase in the size of the lesion within the vertebral body, which may breach the cortex and invade paravertebral soft tissues, (2) compression of adjacent nerve roots, (3) development of a pathological fracture, (4) development of spinal instability from such a fracture and compression of the spinal cord [1]. Such compression has been reported to occur in approximately 5% of patients with widespread cancer [3, 4]. Harrington classified patients with spinal metastases into five categories, depending on the extent of neurological compromise or bone destruction, and he recommended treatments according category: class I—no significant neurological involvement; class II—involvement of bone without collapse or instability; class III—major neurological impairment (sensory or motor) without significant involvement of bone; class IV—vertebral collapse with pain due to mechanical causes or instability but without significant neurological compromise; class V—vertebral collapse or instability combined with major neurological impairment [1].

The aim of treatment is to relive pain, prevent development of pathological fracture, improve mobility and function, and prolong survival. Patients in class I or II generally obtain relief from pain by chemotherapy or hormonal manipulation, and in the absence of success with these modalities, from local irradiation. Radiotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for class III. Surgery is indicated for classes IV and V to prevent or improve neurological dysfunction, to correct a kyphotic deformity, and to relieve intractable pain to improve the quality of life in terminally ill patients. To rationalise surgical treatment, life expectancy is an important aspect. More than three fourths patients who died of breast cancer had bony metastasis [5, 6]. Two to 7% of them had cervical spine involvement [5, 6]. Clinical presentation often lags behind radiological findings, which makes metastasis to the odontoid of great significance despite its rarity. Mortality rate is >50% in acute odontoid fractures [7]. Any patient with an acute odontoid fracture is at high risk of neurological complications, as progressive odontoid displacement or minimal fracture may result in spinal cord compression. This could present as early as 6 weeks as late as 60 years after odontoid fracture [8–10].

Metastatic lesions of the odontoid are rare, and in this case report, the lesion was identified before a pathological fracture occurred [2]. Hence, one must be aware of patients presenting with neck pain following a diagnosis of breast cancer, as they are at high risk of developing cervical metastasis, and if they are subjected to any intervention that may require a general anaesthetic, preoperative evaluation is vital, as only a minimal force is required to cause fracture. To prevent this from occurring, the main strategies should be: (1) Continuous surveillance of patients with breast carcinoma for clinical symptoms such as neck pain and stiffness; (2) If patients present with neck pain, adequate views of cervical spine (anteroposterior/lateral and open-mouth view) is mandatory, and if in doubt, CT or MRI is warranted. (3) If patients are subjected to general anaesthetic evaluation of cervical vertebra, using appropriate imaging modalities (X-ray, CT & MRI) is necessary (Figs. 1, 2, 3).

Fig. 1
figure 1

a, b Anteroposterior (AP) and lateral radiographs of the cervical spine showing a large lytic lesion of the odontoid

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Fig. 2
figure 2

Computed tomography (CT) showing the odontoid lesion

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Fig. 3
figure 3

Computed tomography (CT) showing resolving lesion postradiotherapy

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An appropriate clinical history, detailed examination, and investigation with early intervention can avoid disastrous sequelae in such cases.