Spinal cord infarction complicating embolisation of vertebral metastasis: a result of masking of a spinal artery by a high-flow lesion.

SUMMARY: A 70-year-old woman presented with severe back pain secondary to metastasis of renal cell carcinoma to the second lumbar vertebral body. She had no evidence of spinal cord compression clinically or on MR imaging. Tumour embolisation was performed for pain relief The embolisation was complicated by spinal cord infarction resulting from angiographic masking of a spinal artery by diversion of contrast material into the high-flow tumour.