Surgical management with radiation therapy for metastatic spinal tumors located on cervicothoracic junction : a single center study

• Published in: Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2015, 57(1), , pp.42-49
• Main Authors: Park, Ho-Young, Lee, Sun-Ho, Park, Se-Jun, Kim, Eun-Sang, Lee, Chong-Suh, Eoh, Whan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical; 신경외과학
• ISSN: 2005-3711; 1598-7876
• DOI: 10.3340/jkns.2015.57.1.42

The cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) is a biomechanically and anatomically complex region that has traditionally posed problems for surgical access. In this retrospective study, we describe our clinical experiences of the treatment of metastatic spinal tumors at the CTJ and the results. From June 2006 to December 2011, 23 patients who underwent surgery for spinal tumors involving the CTJ were enrolled in our study. All of the patients were operated on through the posterior approach, and extent of resection was classified as radical, debulking, and simple neural decompression. Adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) was also considered. Visual analog scale score for pain assessment and Medical Research Council (MRC) grade for motor weakness were used, while pre- and post-operative performance status was evaluated using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). Almost all of the patients were operated using palliative surgical methods (91.3%, 21/23). Ten complications following surgery occurred and revision was performed in four patients. Of the 23 patients of this study, 22 showed significant pain relief according to their visual analogue scale scores. Concerning the aspect of neurological and functional recovery, mean MRC grade and ECOG score was significantly improved after surgery (p