An Economic Analysis of SC24 in Canada: A Randomized Study of SBRT Compared With Conventional Palliative RT for Spinal Metastases.

PURPOSE: The Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) Symptom Control 24 protocol (SC.24) was a multicenter randomized controlled phase 2/3 trial conducted in Canada and Australia. Patients with painful spinal metastases were randomized to either 24 Gy/2 stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) or 20 Gy/5 conventional external beam radiation therapy (CRT). The study met its primary endpoint and demonstrated superior complete pain response rates at 3 months following SBRT (35%) versus CRT (14%). SBRT planning and delivery is resource intensive. Given its benefits in SC.24, we performed an economic analysis to determine the incremental cost-effectiveness of SBRT compared with CRT. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The trial recruited 229 patients. Cost-effectiveness was assessed using a Markov model taking into account observed survival, treatments costs, retreatment, and quality of life over the lifetime of the patient. The EORTC-QLU-C10D was used to determine quality of life values. Transition probabilities for outcomes were from available patient data. Health system costs were from the Canadian health care perspective and were based on 2021 Canadian dollars (CAD). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was expressed as the ratio of incremental cost to quality-adjusted life years (QALY). The impact of parameter uncertainty was investigated using deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: The base case for SBRT compared with CRT had an ICER of $9,040CAD per QALY gained. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the ICER was most sensitive to variations in the utility assigned to "No local failure" ($5,457CAD to $241,051CAD per QALY), adopting low and high estimates of utility and the cost of the SBRT (ICERs ranging from $7345-$123,361CAD per QALY). It was more robust to variations in assumptions around survival and response rate. CONCLUSIONS: SBRT is associated with higher upfront costs than CRT. The ICER shows that, within the Canadian health care system, SBRT with 2 fractions is likely to be more cost-effective than CRT.

Prognostic Scoring System Development for Malignant Spinal Cord Compression.

OBJECTIVE: Although many prognostic scoring systems have been used to predict survival of malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) patients, some previous data have shown that the accuracy of the scoring system remains problematic. Current advanced cancer therapies may influence the altered survival predictions. The aim of this study was to develop a new prognostic scoring system for higher accuracy of survival prediction in patients with malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC). METHODS: Data were collected from 89 patients diagnosed with MSCC in 2018-2020. Potential clinical factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox's regression analysis. The selected logistic coefficients were transformed into a prognostic predictive scoring system. Internal validation was performed using the bootstrapping procedure. RESULTS: According to multivariate Cox's regression analysis, 9 potential prognostic factors were obtained, i.e. Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio >3.6, breast cancer, lung cancer, other types of cancer (except prostate cancer), male, complete paralysis, spinal metastases in three levels, hypercalcemia, and no further systemic treatment. The data was developed into a Buddhasothorn Hospital Malignant Spinal Cord Compression (BSH-MSCC) score with an interval of 0-52 points (AUC = 0.77; AUC to predict short-term survival = 0.93). When using the cut-off point > 18 to predict short-term survival, AUC = 0.84, sensitivity = 81.5%, specificity = 85.7%, PPV = 89.8%, and NPV = 75.0%. Internal validation with 1,000 bootstrap resampling showed good discrimination. CONCLUSION: BSH-MSCC score had a simplified score and high accuracy. The new tool is more accurate and can help decision-making for better treatment using a multidisciplinary approach.

A Novel Clinical Scoring System for Perioperative Morbidity in Metastatic Spinal Tumor Surgery: The Spine Oncology Morbidity Assessment Score.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a scoring system to predict morbidity for patients undergoing metastatic spinal tumor surgery (MSTS). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Multiple scoring systems exist to predict survival for patients with spinal metastasis. The potential benefits and risks of surgery need to be evaluated for patients with disseminated cancer and limited life expectancy. Few scoring systems exist to predict perioperative morbidity after MSTS. METHODS: We reviewed records of patients who underwent MSTS at our institution between 2013 and 2019. All perioperative complications occurring within 30 days were recorded. A clinical scoring system consisting of five variables (age ≥ 70 yr, hypoalbuminemia, poor preoperative functional status [Karnofsky ≤ 40], Frankel Grade A-C, and multilevel disease ≥2 continuous vertebral bodies) was evaluated as a predictive tool for morbidity; every parameter was assigned a value of 0 if absent or 1 if present (total possible score = 5). The effect of the scoring system on morbidity was evaluated using stepwise multiple logistic regression. Model accuracy was calculated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: One hundred and five patients were identified, with a male prevalence of 58.1% and average age at surgery of 61 years. The overall 30-day complication rate was 36.2%. The perioperative morbidity was 4.6%, 30.0%, 53.9%, and 64.7% for patients with scores of 0, 1, 2, and ≥3 points, respectively (P < 0.001). On multiple logistic regression analysis controlling for covariates not present in the model, the scoring system was significantly associated with 30-day morbidity (OR 3.11; 95% CI, 1.72-5.59; P < 0.001). The model's accuracy was estimated at 0.75. CONCLUSION: Our proposed model was found to accurately predict perioperative morbidity after MSTS. The Spine Oncology Morbidity Assessment (SOMA) score may prove useful for risk stratification and possibly decision-making, though further validation is needed.Level of Evidence: 4.

Predict overall survival of spinal conventional chordoma: Development and assessment of a new predictive nomogram.

OBJECTIVE: To predict the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate in patients with conventional chordoma of the spine PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Registry was used to identify patients with conventional chordoma of the spine from 1994 to 2013. The entire cohort(n = 294) was randomly divided into training (n = 147) and validation (n = 147) cohorts to construct a nomogram. We used the univariate Log-rank test and multivariate Cox model to examine the independent prognostic factors associated with OS. These prognostic factors were integrated to construct a nomogram through R studio. The predictive and validating capacity of the nomogram was calculated by Harrell's concordance index (C-index) and calibration curves. RESULTS: A total of 294 patients were identified with conventional chordoma of the spine. The patients' age at diagnosis, tumor size, EOD (extent of disease), and treatment were independent prognostic factors and associated with OS. These prognostic factors were incorporated to construct a nomogram. The concordance index for the nomogram was 0.771 and 0.732 in the training cohort and validation cohort, respectively. Internal and external calibration curves for 5-year OS showed excellent matching between nomogram prediction and observed outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study provide population-based estimates of patients with conventional chordoma of the spine. Using this nomogram, surgeons can classify patients into different risk groups and achieve individualized treatment.

Survival in breast cancer patients with spine metastases: Prognostic assessment involving molecular markers.

BACKGROUND: To clarify and update the prognostic assessment for heterogeneous population of patients with breast cancer and spine metastases (SpM), using molecular markers. METHODS: The patient data used in this study was obtained from a French national multi-center database of patients treated for breast cancer with SpM between 2014 and 2017. 556 SpM cases were diagnosed. RESULTS: Median overall survival (OS) time for all patients following the SpM event was 43.9 months. First, we confirmed 3 previously known significant prognostic factors for survival of patients with SpM: young age [HR: 2.019, 95% CI 1.343-3.037; p = 0.001], good WHO status [ Status 0 HR: 2.823, 95% CI 1.231-3.345; p < 0.0001] or [ Status 1 HR: 1.956, 95% CI 0.768-2.874; p = 0.001] and no-ambulatory neurological status: Frankel A-C [HR: 0.438, 95% CI 0.248-0.772; p = 0.004]. Secondly, we determined the effect of gene mutations on survival in patients with SpM, and we identified that HER2+ cancer subtype [HR: 1.567, 95% CI 0.946-2.557; p = 0.008] was an independent predictor of longer survival, whereas basal cancer subtype [HR: 0.496, 95% CI 0.353-0.699; p < 0.0001] was associated with a poorer prognosis. Other factors including the number of SpM, surgery, extraspinal metastases, synchrone metastases, metastasis-free survival, and SpM recurrence were not identified as prognostically relevant to survival. CONCLUSION: Survival and our ability to estimate it in breast cancer patients with SpM has improved significantly. Therefore, SpM prognostic scoring algorithms should be updated and incorporate genotypic data on subtypes to make treatment more adaptive.

Complications and Mortality Rates Following Surgical Management of Extradural Spine Tumors in New York State.

STUDY DESIGN: Database analysis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate complications and mortality in patients undergoing surgical management of extradural spinal tumors in New York State. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Metastatic spine surgery has a high rate of complications but most studies are limited to single institutions. METHODS: The Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System was used to identify patients with extradural spinal tumors undergoing surgery in New York State from 2006 to 2015. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate outcomes. RESULTS: Four thousand seven hundred sixty-seven patients were identified, the majority of patients were male and white a median age of 61. The complication rate was 17.6% and the mortality rate within 30 days of discharge was 12.2%. Multivariate analysis showed the odds of complications were higher in males compared with females (odds ratio [OR]: 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.52, P = 0.01), and patients on Medicaid compared with patients on private insurance (OR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.03-1.96, P = 0.03). Analysis of hospital characteristics showed lower volume hospitals (OR 1.48; 95% CI: 1.03-2.13, P value = 0.03), and teaching hospitals (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.03-2.09, P = 0.04), have higher odds of complications compared with high-volume hospitals and nonteaching hospitals. Multivariate analysis showed higher odds of mortality within 30 days of discharge in patients of older age (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.03, P value = 0.001), low-volume hospitals compared with high-volume hospitals (OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.09-1.79, P value = 0.02), hospitals with low bed size compared with high bed size (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.12-1.83, P value = 0.01), and urban hospitals compared with rural hospitals (OR: 3.04; 95% CI: 2.03-4.56, P value = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Low-volume hospitals are associated with complications and mortality in patients with metastatic spine disease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

The revised Tokuhashi score; analysis of parameters and assessment of its accuracy in determining survival in patients afflicted with spinal metastasis.

PURPOSE: To determine the significance of each parameter of the revised Tokuhashi score and identify which is associated with survival. BACKGROUND: Spinal metastases are common and can be a challenging medical issue. Treatment options depend on patients' prognosis. Many scoring systems in the literature help estimate prognosis, such as the Tokuhashi, revised Tokuhashi, and Tomita scoring systems. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients from 2003 to 2012 treated for spinal metastases in one center was conducted. Imaging, pathology, and charts were reviewed to determine the modified Tokuhashi scores. Scores were then compared to the actual documented survival. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were used to assess the importance of each individual parameter and survival time. Linear regression was used to determine the relationship between the Tokuhashi score and weighted Tokuhashi score with survival time. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients were reviewed. All parameters in the revised Tokuhashi score were significantly associated with survival time except for primary site using univariate analysis. Only the number of spinal metastases and metastasis to major organs showed statistical significance when multiple variable analysis was used. CONCLUSION: A number of spinal metastases and metastasis to major organs were the most important predictors of actual survival. Modification to the score based on population characteristics would help better identify patients with spinal metastases that can benefit from surgery.

Establishment of a Disease-Specific Graded Prognostic Assessment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Spinal Metastasis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with spinal metastasis (SM) show heterogeneous lengths of survival. In this study, we develop and propose a graded prognostic assessment for HCC patients with SM (HCC-SM GPA). METHODS: We previously reported the outcomes of 192 HCC patients with SM who received radiotherapy from April 1992 to February 2012. Prognostic factors that significantly affected survival in that study were used to establish the HCC-SM GPA. Validation was performed using an independent cohort of 63 patients recruited from September 2011 to March 2016. RESULTS: We developed the HCC-SM GPA using the following factors: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (0-2, 0 point; 3-4, 1 point), controlled primary HCC (yes, 0 point; no, 2 points), and extrahepatic metastases other than bone (no, 0 point; yes, 1 point). Patients were stratified into low (GPA=0), intermediate (GPA=1 to 2), and high risk (GPA=3 to 4). When applied to the validation cohort, the HCC-SM GPA determined median survival durations of 13.6, 4.8, and 2.6 months and 1-year overall survival rates of 58.3%, 17.8%, and 7.3% for the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patient groups, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our newly proposed HCC-SM GPA successfully predicted survival outcomes.

Stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic fractionated radiotherapy for metastatic tumors of the spine.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this paper are to describe pain control, neurologic improvement, local tumor control, progression-free survival, and overall survival of spine SRS/SFRT patients, and to compare our outcomes with other studies on spine stereotactic radiotherapy for metastatic tumors. METHODS: A chart review of patients who underwent spine SRS/SFRT was done. Information was collected on patient age, sex, histology, site treated, pain relief, local control, neurologic function, prescription dose, and complications. Descriptive statistics, median local control rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival were calculated. RESULTS: Twenty eight SRS and 3 SFRT target volumes in 21 patients were studied. Eighteen underwent SRS and 3 underwent SFRT for metastasis from August 2012 to February 2016. Follow-up ranged from 4 to 41 months. Average dose was 16.6 ± 3.9 Gy. Spine SRS mean target volume was 31.1 cc (95% CI, 21.7-40.6 cc). Median overall survival after treatment was 16 months (95% CI, 9.7-22.3 months) and median progression-free survival was 13 months (95% CI, 8.4-17.6 months). Local control was 46%, 30%, and 15% at 6, 8, and 10 months, respectively. Average onset of pain relief is 4.9 days (95% CI, 0.8-8.9 days). One patient (5%) developed post SRS vertebral compression fracture. CONCLUSION: SRS/SFRT is a safe and effective alternative to EBRT for the treatment of spine metastasis. Improvement in pain control and motor strength and incidence of adverse events are comparable with other studies. Local tumor control was lower in our series due to a lower mean prescribed dose.

Healthcare costs attributable to the treatment of patients with spinal metastases: a cohort study with up to 8 years follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Cancer treatment, and in particular end-of-life treatment, is associated with substantial healthcare costs. The purpose of this study was to analyse healthcare costs attributable to the treatment of patients with spinal metastases. METHODS: The study population (n = 629) was identified from clinical databases in Denmark. Patients undergoing spinal metastasis treatment from January 2005 through June 2012 were included. Clinical data were merged with national register data on healthcare resource use, costs and death date. The analytic period ranged from treatment initiation until death or administrative censoring in October 2013. Analysis of both survival and costs were stratified into four treatment regimens of increasing invasiveness: radiotherapy (T1), decompression (T2), decompression + instrumentation (T3) and decompression + instrumentation + reconstruction (T4). Survival was analysed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Costs were estimated from a healthcare perspective. Lifetime costs were defined as accumulated costs from treatment initiation until death. The Kaplan-Meier Sampling Average method was used to estimate these costs; 95% CIs were estimated using nonparametric bootstrapping. RESULTS: Mean age of the study population was 65.2 years (range: 19-95). During a mean follow-up period of 9.2 months (range: 0.1-94.5 months), post treatment survival ranged from 4.4 months (95% CI 2.5-7.5) in the T1 group to 8.7 months (95% CI 6.7-14.1) in the T4 group. Inpatient hospitalisation accounted for 65% and outpatient services for 31% of the healthcare costs followed by hospice placements 3% and primary care 1%. Lifetime healthcare costs accounted for €36,616 (95% CI 33,835-39,583) per T1 patients, €49,632 (95% CI 42,287-57,767) per T2 patient, €70997 (95% CI 62,244-82,354) per T3 patient and €87,814 (95% CI 76,638-101,528) per T4 patient. Overall, 45% of costs were utilised within the first month. T1 and T4 patients had almost identical distributions of costs: inpatient hospitalisation averaged 59% and 36% for outpatient services. Costs of T2 and T3 were very similarly distributed with an average of 71% for inpatient hospitalisation and 25% for outpatient services. CONCLUSION: The index treatment accounts for almost half of lifetime health care costs from treatment initiation until death. As expected, lifetime healthcare costs are positively association with invasiveness of treatment.

Skeletal-related events and mortality among older men with advanced prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Skeletal-related events (SREs) are defined as a cluster of events including clinical diagnoses and treatment. Using claims data, the burden of SREs as a group has been reported among patients with cancer. We investigate the mortality impact of subcomponents of SREs, a topic that has received limited attention among older men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed prostate cancer (PCa) and all-cause mortality among men diagnosed with metastatic PCa from 2000 to 2007 using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data linked with 1999-2009 Medicare data. We created three measures of pathological fracture (PF), spinal cord compression (SCC), and bone surgery (BS) that differed in the use of claims-based bone metastasis information. We reported covariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) using the full sample and a propensity score-matched sample (PSMS). RESULTS: Application of inclusion/exclusion criteria resulted in 7062 men in the full sample (1776 in the PSMS). PCa-specific (all-cause mortality) was 54% (80%) at a median follow-up of 609days. SRE prevalence ranged from 9.7% to 17.1% across the measures. In a PCa mortality model, the HR associated with an SRE ranged from 1.07 (0.98-1.16) to 1.31 (1.18-1.45). The HRs for SCC and PF were statistically significant and positively associated with PCa-specific mortality. The results for BS depended on the measure. Results for SCC and BS, but not for PF, were preserved using a PSMS. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between SREs and mortality among older men with metastatic PCa was driven by SCC and depended on the definition used to measure SREs.

Outcome of management of complicated extragonadal teratoma in a resource poor setting.

BACKGROUND: Extragonadal teratomas (EXGTs) are ubiquitous in the human body; hence, they have varied presentation. In underdeveloped areas presentation and management are affected by socio-economic, cultural and health facilities factors. The aim of this study was to review the outcome of management of complicated EXGT in a tertiary health centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review data of paediatric patients with EXGT was done between January 1999 and December 2012. Variables reviewed were bio-data, mode of presentation and site of tumour, comorbidity, treatments and outcome. The data was analysed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS (R)) version 16.0. RESULTS: There were 21 complicated EXGT (77.8%) among 27 children, age ranges from 4 days to 16 years (median = 2 years). Male:Female ratio of 1:2. The complications per region of the body at presentation were cervical 4 (66.7%), mediastinal 2 (100%), abdominal 3 (75%) and sacrococcygeal 12 (75%). The complications were respiratory distress 6, intestinal obstruction 5, faecal incontinence 2, bladder outlet obstruction 3, malignant transformation 5, ruptured sacrococcygeal teratoma 2, ulcerated tumour 2, anaemia 3 and malnutrition 3. There were 5 (23.8%) progressive disease post-excision outside our facility. Excision biopsy was successful in 19 (85%) patients two of which had neoadjuvant cytotoxic therapy. Overall mortality was 5 (23.8%) (septicaemia, anaemia, respiratory distress, renal failure) and post-excision mortality was 11.8% (endotracheal tube blockage and progressive disease). CONCLUSION: Delay presentation (due to local belief, ignorance and poverty) malnutrition, sepsis, malignant transformation characterised presentation of children in this study and the lack of paediatric intensive care unit facility and intensivists compromised survival of children with EXGT.

The impact of insurance status on outcomes after surgery for spinal metastases.

BACKGROUND: Disparities based on insurance status in the American health care system are well established. However, to the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate variables that may explain differences based on payer type in the outcomes after surgery for spinal metastases. METHODS: Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2005-2008) were retrospectively extracted. Patients ages 18 to 64 years who underwent surgery for spinal metastases were included. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to calculate the adjusted odds of in-hospital death and the development of a complication for Medicaid recipients and for those without insurance compared with privately insured patients. All analyses were adjusted for differences in patient age, gender, primary tumor histology, socioeconomic status, hospital bed size, and hospital teaching status. RESULTS: A total of 2157 hospital admissions were evaluated. The adjusted odds of in-hospital death were significantly higher for Medicaid recipients (crude rate: 6.5%; odds ratio [OR], 1.79; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.11-2.88 [P = .02]) and uninsured patients (crude rate: 7.7%; OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.04-4.46 [P = .04]) compared with privately insured patients (crude rate: 3.8%). Complication rates were also significantly higher for Medicaid recipients (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.04-1.72 [P = .02]). However, after also adjusting for acuity of presentation, the odds of in-hospital death were not significantly different for Medicaid (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 0.86-2.21 [P = .18]) or uninsured patients (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 0.90-3.83 [P = .09]); in addition, complication rates did not appear to differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide study suggests that disparities based on insurance status for patients undergoing surgery for spinal metastases may be attributable to a higher acuity of presentation.

Trends in survival after surgery for breast cancer metastatic to the brain and spinal column in medicare patients: a population-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: Central nervous system (CNS) metastases are a common occurrence in patients with breast cancer and are identified in up to 30% of patients at autopsy. OBJECTIVE: To determine population-based estimates of survival times after surgical intervention for Medicare patients with metastatic breast cancer to the brain and spinal column. METHODS: Female breast cancer patients with metastases to the brain and spinal column and undergoing neurosurgical treatment were identified through the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database. Estimates of survival were calculated with Kaplan-Meier estimation and a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: There were 643 patients who underwent neurosurgical treatment of metastatic disease from 1986 to 2005. Of these patients, 264 underwent cranial surgery and 379 underwent spinal surgery. There were 40 deaths during the postoperative hospital admission for an inpatient postoperative death rate of 6.2%. Inpatient death has declined by approximately 50% for surgeries performed in the most recent decade; however, the 30-day mortality rate of 9.0% has remained constant. The median postoperative survival after cranial surgery was 7.8 months (95% confidence interval, 6.2-9.2), after laminectomy was 9.4 months (95% confidence interval, 6.3-15.7), and after spinal fusion was 15.7 months (95% confidence interval, 11.9-18.5). Survival after spinal fusion has increased by approximately 50% in the recent decade. Patients with increased survival after cranial surgery were younger, had fewer comorbidities, and had longer periods from breast cancer diagnosis to surgery. Patients with increased survival after spinal neurosurgery had lower-grade lesions and longer time periods from breast cancer diagnosis to surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: After surgically treated metastases, one-third of cranial patients and one-half of spinal patients are alive at 1 year. The overall postoperative survival has increased over time only for spinal fusion procedures.

Metastatic paraplegia: care management characteristics within a rehabilitation center.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To determine the potential impact of rehabilitation care on associated symptoms and functional improvements of paraplegic patients with metastatic spinal cord compression. SETTING: CMN Propara, Montpellier (France). MEASURES: Demographics, Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Frankel Modified Score and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, intercurrent adverse medical events and neurological outcome, duration of stay, survival time, rehospitalization in a non-Spinal Cord Injury unit, number of contracts defining the patients rehabilitation goals, number of contracts defining the patients duration of stay within the rehabilitation center. RESULTS: We reviewed the charts of 26 patients. The initial neurological profile was paraplegia or paraparesis for 24 patients and quadriparesis for 2 patients. Regarding functional improvements: four patients demonstrated a poor functional evolution, five patients showed no functional improvements or very slight improvements and all the other patients showed an increase in their overall functional aptitudes. At the end of the stay, 14 patients were urinary independent. Our study reports 52 rehospitalizations in an another unit and 101 outpatient visits during their rehabilitation stay in a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) center. For the 14 patients who were deceased at the time of data collection, the median survival rate post-paraplegia was 12.7 months. A total of 12 of the 14 patients spent more than a third of their remaining survival time in a rehabilitation center. DISCUSSION: Compared to the patients' life expectancy, their stay in a rehabilitation center is too long and prevents them from spending time with family and loved ones. The occurrence rate of the associated symptoms is high because of both cancer-related disorders and neurological disorders caused by the spinal cord lesion. PM&R professionals are faced with patients affected by chronic pain and fatigue as well as frequent rehospitalizations, short stays and outpatient stays, in the primary oncology unit. This study focuses on the need to privilege the patients' comfort over their functional rehabilitation.

Radiotherapy in pediatric medulloblastoma: quality assessment of Pediatric Oncology Group Trial 9031.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential influence of radiotherapy quality on survival in high-risk pediatric medulloblastoma patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Trial 9031 of the Pediatric Oncology Group (POG) aimed to study the relative benefit of cisplatin and etoposide randomization of high-risk patients with medulloblastoma to preradiotherapy vs. postradiotherapy treatment. Two-hundred and ten patients were treated according to protocol guidelines and were eligible for the present analysis. Treatment volume (whole brain, spine, posterior fossa, and primary tumor bed) and dose prescription deviations were assessed for each patient. An analysis of first site of failure was undertaken. Event-free and overall survival rates were calculated. A log-rank test was used to determine the significance of potential survival differences between patients with and without major deviations in the radiotherapy procedure. RESULTS: Of 160 patients who were fully evaluable for all treatment quality parameters, 91 (57%) had 1 or more major deviations in their treatment schedule. Major deviations by treatment site were brain (26%), spinal (7%), posterior fossa (40%), and primary tumor bed (17%). Major treatment volume or total dose deviations did not significantly influence overall and event-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Despite major treatment deviations in more than half of fully evaluable patients, underdosage or treatment volume misses were not associated with a worse event-free or overall survival.

Surgical management of vertebral neoplasia: who, when, how and why?

To determine the role of surgery in vertebral neoplasia, we conducted a retrospective review of patients undergoing surgery for vertebral neoplasia in the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, and Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, Coventry. Surgery included decompression, stabilisation or both. The neurological status was assessed by Frankel grading before and after surgery. Of 70 patients undergoing surgery, 14 were neurologically intact preoperatively, and a further 25 were weak but ambulatory. Following surgery, 35 were intact, and a further 22 were ambulatory. Sixty-six patients (94%) obtained good pain relief. Survival correlated with histology and younger age at presentation, but not with level, neurology at presentation or type of surgery. We conclude that neurological status, pain relief and mechanical stability are better after appropriate surgery than after radiotherapy or inappropriate surgery. Failure to consider the surgical option may deny the chance of significant neurological recovery.