Metastatic Tumor in the Atlantoaxial Spine: A Case Report

Atlantoaxial involvement is rare in metastatic tumors of the spine. We report a case of atlantoaxial metastatic adenocarcinoma of pulmonary origin, which was treated as cervical spondylosis because the first clinical manifestations were cervical pain followed by limitation of rotation. In the literature, most authors stated that in patients with cervical spine metastases but without neurological signs, pain may be the only complaint. Most metastasized tumors of the atlantoaxial spine originate in the lung or breast. The goal of treatment for these cases is palliative. Posterior fixation is indicated for patients having intractable pain or whose cervical spine is unstable. Conservative treatment for the rest of their lives is recommended for these patients.