title: Radiation therapy for spinal epidural metastases with complete block.
abstract: Myelography was performed in 535 patients at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital from January 1979 to December 1979. In 110 cases a complete block was demonstrated and of these, 78 had epidural metastases. A uniform treatment was applied using radiation therapy and high dose steroid. The neurologic outcome for each patient was evaluated, correlating pre-treatment neurologic status, pathologic type, nature of block (level, structural versus tumoral), and result of repeat fluoromyelography. Only 2 patients improved, but 11 became completely paraplegic. The survival was influenced by the ambulatory status after treatment (median survival: 52.7 weeks in the ambulatory group and 4.6 weeks in the paraplegic). Based on this series, rational approach and management of complete block secondary to spinal epidural metastases are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004824:Epidural Space; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary*