Management Of Metastatic Spinal Tumours

Abstract

Spinal metastases are the most common form of spinal tumours encountered. Yet their management is complex depending on a large number of factors including the overall prognosis, number of lesions, presence of neurology, presence of extraspinal metastases, grade and histological type of tumour, availability of other treatment options, and patient wishes. Moreover, for those that are suitable for surgery, surgical options can vary from a simple laminectomy and stabilization, to combined anterior and posterior excision, and even radical en-bloc spondylectomy. This talk will present our �common sense approach� to the management of this disorder: how we select patients for surgery, how surgical approach and procedure is selected, and how we deal with consecutive and remote multiple level lesions. Some thoughts on whether one should consider en-bloc spondylectomy for spinal metastases will be presented.