Malignant Spinal Cord Compression Syndrome as an InitialPresentation of Testicular Cancer

Malignant spinal cord compression syndrome (MSCCS) occurs in 2.5 to 5% of all oncological patients. In 20% of the cases, it is theinitial manifestation. This syndrome is a rare event among germ cell tumors (GCT), occurring in only 1.7% of the patients. Wepresent the case of a 24-year-old man who arrived at the emergency department with dysesthesia and paraparesis as well as urinaryincontinence. Imaging studies showed an infiltrative lesion in the left testicle, pulmonary and hepatic metastatic disease, and a largeretroperitoneal ganglionar conglomerate that infiltrated the spinal cord through the intervertebral foramina of the vertebra level T11with displacement of the L1 vertebral body. A postoperative biopsy showed a pure embryonal carcinoma. In the initial approach ofa young man who presents spinal cord compression, the presence of MSCCS associated with GCT should be considered as apossible cause. A high level of suspicion is required to achieve a timely diagnosis, to grant the patient the best possible outcome.