Spinal metastases from solid tumors. Analysis of factors affecting survival

Abstract

For patients with spinal metastases and cord compression, the factors found to affect survival include preoperative neurological status, anatomic site of primary carcinoma, and number of vertebral bodies involved. Patients with vertebral column disease and two or more of the poor prognostic indicators have a short life expectancy, and, therefore, radical surgery is not recommended because the benefits may not be substantial.