Spine Center - Metastatic Spine Tumors
Metastasis is the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. Metastatic tumors are tumors that arise at sites away from the original location. Spine is one of the most common locations for metastasis. Over 20,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the US and approximate 10% of all cancer patients will develop symptomatic metastatic spine tumor.
The most common presentation of metastatic spine tumor is pain, sensory changes, weakness, difficulty with ambulation, and bladder or bowel incontinence. Pain resulting from metastatic spine tumors is typically worse with sitting, standing, or performing activities, and this is referred to as mechanical back pain. Mechanical back pain or neck pain is a result of tumor destruction of normal spine, leading to instability of the spine column. Weakness, sensory changes, or bladder and bowel incontinence can result from metastatic spine tumors. Typically, these symptoms are caused by direct mechanical compression of the spine cord and nerve roots by the growing tumor. Without treatments, patients with metastatic spine tumors will have persistent severe pain and they will develop progressive neurological problems that can progress to complete paralysis.
The goal of treatment for patients with metastatic spine tumor is palliation rather than curative. Treatment for these patients is directed toward improving their symptoms of pain or neurological dysfunctions. Many of the metastatic spine tumors can be treated with radiation and chemotherapy to alleviate pain and delay tumor progression. Radiation therapy has been the mainstay treatment for patients with metastatic spine tumor and is highly effective. Nevertheless, radiation and chemotherapy cannot address the instability of the spinal column from tumor destruction, nor can it acutely relief the direct mechanical compression on the spinal cord or nerves to improve neurological function and prevent paralysis.
Surgery for the metastatic spine tumors has the unique advantages in its ability to acute relieve pressure off the spinal cord to prevent paralysis and to restore spinal stability by instrumentation placement for fusion. A multicenter trial published in 2005 demonstrated that treatment with surgery and radiation is superior to treatment with radiation alone. The study showed that more patients could walk following treatment with surgery and radiation compared to treatment with radiation alone. In addition, they retained their ability to walk for a much longer period.
At the USC Neurosurgery Spine Center, our specialists offer a comprehensive treatment program, ranging from medical therapy to complex spine surgeries, for patients with metastatic spine tumor. We have active clinical and research collaborations between the neurosurgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and basic scientist that allow us to provide sophisticated, compassionated, and individualized treatment plans to patients with metastatic spine tumor. We offer some of the latest treatments for patients with metastatic spine tumors, including kyphoplasty, minimally invasive tumor excision and spinal fusion, and robotic-assisted spinal radiosurgery. For those of you who are unfortunately afflicted with metastatic spine tumor, our goal at the USC Neurosurgery Spine Center is to provide you with compassionate care, pain relief, and improved quality of life.
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