Radiotherapy and Surgical Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer of the Spine

Hobbs JG, Morshed RA, Young JS, Desai B and Mehta AI

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Chicago, USA
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, USA

^*Correspondance to: Ankit Mehta 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.1038

Abstract

Metastatic vertebral column tumors are found in up to 20% of cancer patients, and of these, a percentage will go on to develop compression of eloquent neurological structures. Neurosurgeons often encounter these patients in an emergent situation, and decisions regarding care must be made in an expedient manner. However, many treatment paradigms depend on the histology of the causative lesion. One of the most common malignancies that metastasize to the spine in today’s practice is breast cancer. Current standards of treatment revolve around utilization of radiation therapy through conventional external beam radiation therapy (cEBRT) for treatment of the pathological lesions with surgery reserved for select cases. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)/ stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for spinal metastases is another exciting treatment avenue for patients with new data delineating its use on the horizon. In this review, we focus on the evolving treatment paradigms and future areas of investigation needed for spinal metastatic lesions with an emphasis on evidence for breast cancer lesions.

Keywords

Metastatic; Breast cancer; Spine; Stereotactic; Radiation

Cite the article

Hobbs JG, Morshed RA, Young JS, Desai B, Mehta AI. Radiotherapy and Surgical Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer of the Spine. Clin Surg. 2016; 1: 1038.