Reynolds, Jeremy

Introduction Treatment of symptomatic spinal metastases through surgical decompression and reconstruction is known to improve quality of life in patients with cancer. However, most studies have been performed on patients with mixed tumor histopathology. We systematically review the literature for prognostic factors specific to the surgical treatment of prostate metastases to the spine to determine the indications and outcomes of the surgical treatment. Material and Methods A systemic review of the literature was conducted to answer the following questions: Q1. Describe the survival and functional outcomes of surgery or vertebral augmentation for prostate metastases to the spine; Q2. Determine whether overall tumor burden, Gleason score, preoperative functional markers, and favorable hormonal naivety for operative intervention; Q3. Establish whether clinical outcomes vary with the evolution of operative techniques. Expert consensus was obtained using a modified Delphi process. Results A total of 16 studies met the preset inclusion criteria. These studies were all retrospective series with a level of evidence of IV. Included studies consistently showed a large effect of hormone naivety on overall survival. In addition, studies consistently demonstrated an improvement in motor function and the ability to maintain/regain ambulation following surgery resulting in moderate strength of recommendation. All other parameters were of insufficient or low strength. Conclusion There is scant literature on the surgical treatment of prostate metastases to the spine, which represents an opportunity for future research. On the basis of the existing evidence, it appears that the surgical treatment of prostate metastases to the spine has consistently favorable results. While no consistent preoperative indicators favor nonoperative treatment, hormone naivety and high Karnofsky Performance Scores have positive effects on survival and clinical outcomes.

Introduction Primary spinal osteosarcomas are rare and aggressive neoplasms with poor outcomes. Enneking appropriate, en bloc resection is recommended for appendicular osteosarcomas. Obtaining even marginal margins is technically demanding in the spine, resulting in significant morbidity and possible functional sacrifice. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic variables on local recurrence and mortality, in surgically treated patients diagnosed with a primary osteosarcoma of the spine. Methods A multicenter ambispective database of surgically treated patients with primary spine osteosarcomas was developed by the AOSpine knowledge forum tumor. Patient demographic, diagnosis, treatment, perioperative morbidity, local recurrence, and cross-sectional survival data were collected. Tumors were classified according to Enneking principles and analyzed in the following two cohorts: Enneking appropriate (EA) and Enneking inappropriate (EI). EA was defined by the final pathology margin matching the Enneking recommended surgical margin and EI by not matching. Prognostic variables including age, previous spine tumor operation, biopsy type, spine level, tumor size, and chemotherapy timing were analyzed in reference to local recurrence and survival. Results Between 1987 and 2012, 57 patients (31 females and 26 males) underwent surgical treatment for a primary spinal osteosarcoma at a mean age of 36 ± 16 years. Patients were followed for a mean period of 3.4 ± 3.5 years (range, 0.5 days–14.3 years). Median survival for the entire cohort was 6.7 years postoperative. Overall, 24 (42%) patients died and 17 (30%) patients suffered a local recurrence, 10 (59%) of which died. Overall, 28 (52%) patients underwent EA resection while 26 (48%) patients were treated by EI resection. Median survival for patients with EA was 6.8 years postoperative, whereas median survival for EI patients was 3.7 years postoperatively ( p = 0.062). EI patients were at a higher risk of local recurrence than EA patients ( p = 0.002). Patient age, previous spine tumor operation, tumor size, spine level, and chemotherapy timing did not significantly influence recurrence and survival. Conclusion Osteosarcoma of the spine presents a significant challenge and most patients die from their disease in spite of aggressive surgery. There is a significant decrease in recurrence with en bloc resection when compared with intralesional resection.