Atypical case of widespread pain due to spinal metastasis from gastrointestinal cancer

Friday, November 14, 2025

3:38 PM - 3:46 PM CT

Location: Griffin Hall

Introduction: Spinal metastases occur in 5–10% of cancer cases, with gastrointestinal carcinomas (GI CA) accounting for an even smaller proportion (1). While back pain is the most common symptom, atypical presentations lead to misdiagnosis (2). This case involves a patient with known GI CA with severe generalized pain and weakness that was consistently attributed to cancer fatigue and deconditioning. After extensive workup, she was found to have metastatic spinal metastasis from GI CA.

Submitting Author(s)

DW

Daniel Wang, DO

Resident Physician
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Health System, United States

Co-Author(s)

KY

Kerstin Yu, MD

Resident Physician
Georgetown University Medical Center, United States
SM

Seyed Ali Mostoufi, MD

Vice Chairman, Attending Physician of Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Health System, United States
DM

Diana Molinares, MD

Attending Physician, Program Director of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Health System, United States