Carcinoma of the oesophagus causing paraparesis by direct extension to the spinal cord.

A 75-year-old man presented with dysphagia and subsequent paraparesis. He was treated by oesophageal dilatation and by the placement of an 8.4 cm Atkinson tube. It was shown that an oesophago-subarachnoid fistula, a rare complication of carcinoma of the oesophagus, had developed. This resulted from direct extension of the tumour to the spinal cord and caused paraparesis unrelated to treatment.