Boland, Patrick J.

AbstractBackgroundLocal recurrence (LR) of sacral chordoma is a difficult problem and the mortality risk associated with LR remains poorly described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of mortality in patients with LR and determine if patient age is associated with mortality.MethodsA total of 218 patients (144 male, 69 female; mean age 59 ± 15 years) with sacrococcygeal chordomas were reviewed. Cumulative incidence functions and competing risks for death due to disease and nondisease mortality were employed to analyze mortality trends following LR.ResultsThe 10‐year overall survival (OS) was 55%. Patients with LR had 44% 10‐year OS, similar to patients without (59%; P = .38). The 10‐year OS between those less than 55 compared with ≥55 years were similar (69% vs 48%; P = .52). The 10‐year death due to disease was worse in patients with LR compared with those without (44% vs 84%; P < .001). In patients without LR, patients ≥55 years were 1.6‐fold more likely to experience death due to other causes.ConclusionsPatients with an LR are more likely to die due to disease. Advanced patient age was associated with higher all‐cause mortality following resection of sacral chordoma. LR of chordoma was associated with increased disease‐specific mortality, regardless of age.

AbstractBackgroundWe reviewed the disease control and complications of the treatment of sacrococcygeal chordoma from four tertiary cancer centers with emphasis on the effects of radiotherapy in surgically treated patients.MethodsA total of 193 patients with primary sacrococcygeal chordoma from 1990 to 2015 were reviewed. There were 124 males, with a mean age of 59 ± 15 years and a mean follow‐up of 7 ± 4 years. Eighty‐nine patients received radiotherapy with a mean total dose of 61.8 ± 10.9 Gy.ResultsThe 10‐year disease‐free and disease‐specific survival was 58% and 72%, respectively. Radiation was not associated with local recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59‐2.17; P = 0.71), metastases (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.45‐1.91; P = 0.85) or disease‐specific survival (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.46‐2.00; P = 0.91). Higher doses (≥70 Gy; HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.20‐1.32; P = 0.17) may be associated with reduced local recurrence. Radiotherapy was associated with wound complications (HR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.64‐4.82;, P < 0.001) and sacral stress fractures (HR, 4.73; 95% CI, 1.88‐14.38; P < 0.001).ConclusionsIn this multicenter review, radiotherapy was not associated with tumor outcome but associated with complications. The routine use of radiotherapy with en‐bloc resection of sacrococcygeal chordomas should be reconsidered in favor of a selective, individualized approach with a radiation dose of ≥70 Gy.

Purpose Single-fraction image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) allows for tumoricidal treatment of traditionally radioresistant cancers while sparing critical adjacent structures. Risk of vertebral fracture after IG-IMRT for spinal metastases has not been defined. Patients and Methods We evaluated 62 consecutive patients undergoing single fraction IG-IMRT at 71 sites for solid organ metastases. A neuroradiologist and three spine surgeons evaluated prospectively obtained magnetic resonance/computed tomography (CT) imaging studies for post-treatment fracture development and tumor recurrence. Results Fracture progression was noted in 27 vertebrae (39%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CT appearance, lesion location, and percent vertebral body involvement independently predicted fracture progression. Lesions located between T10 and the sacrum were 4.6 times more likely to fracture than were lesions above T10 (95% CI, 1.1 to 19.7). Lytic lesions were 6.8 times more likely to fracture than were sclerotic and mixed lesions (95% CI, 1.4 to 33.3). As percent vertebral body involvement increased, odds of fracture also increased. Patients with fracture progression had significantly higher narcotic use, change in Karnofsky performance score, and a strong trend toward higher pain scores. Local tumor progression occurred in seven patients and contributed to one fracture. Obesity, posterior element involvement, bisphosphonate use, and local kyphosis did not confer increased risk. Conclusion Vertebral fracture is common after single fraction IG-IMRT for metastatic spine lesions. Lytic disease involving more than 40% of the vertebral body and location at or below T10 confer a high risk of fracture, the presence of which yields significantly poorer clinical outcomes. These results may help clinicians identify high-risk patients who would benefit from prophylactic vertebro- or kyphoplasty.