CHSU Discovery

Abstract

Prostate cancer is both the most frequently diagnosed malignancy among men worldwide and the most significant contributor to cancer-associated mortalities in the United States. Commonly known risk factors include family history,  ethnicity, age, and obesity. Prostate biopsy is the diagnostic gold standard for prostate cancer and is typically performed with a transrectal or transperineal ultrasound-guided approach. Current American Urological Association guidelines recommend PSA screening  every 2-4 years for those between 50 and 69 deemed low-risk. In late stages of the disease, patients may experience lower urinary tract  symptoms. Once the cancer has metastasized, patients may experience fatigue,  ostealgia, back pain, limb weakness, paresthesia, and numbness. Bone metastasis typically travels hematogenously through the venous system, specifically via the pelvic plexus in prostate cancer. In rare cases, patients with late-stage prostate cancer may present with the  emergent complication of spinal cord compression. Metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) occurs in around 2.5-5% of patients who are terminally ill as a result of their cancer, with prostate cancer contributing to 16.2% of  hospitalizations related to MSCC. Post-treatment rehabilitation is essential for restoring mobility and independence,  yet functional outcomes in MSCC remain underreported. This case report details the rehabilitation progress of a patient with MSCC secondary to prostatic adenocarcinoma, contributing to existing literature on functional recovery.