title: Radiotherapy for spinal cord compression in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spinal metastases of soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) occur rarely and pose a therapeutic problem. Although wide resection is warranted for best local control, it is rarely feasible. A radiotherapy (RT) dose of 70 Gy is usually needed to treat limb STS, but only 45 Gy can be given to the spine. In the present series, we report our experience using RT to treat spinal cord compression (SpCC) associated with STS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical files of 19 adult patients with STS and SpCC were reviewed. RT was considered in all the cases, together with steroids and analgesics. The prescribed dose was 30 Gy in 10 fractions within 12 days. The effect of treatment was evaluated on a clinical basis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three events of SpCC were found. The prevailing symptom was pain. The Karnofsky performance status was 40-70% at presentation. RT was given in all but 1 patient and surgical decompression in 3. Small, but important, improvements in signs and Karnofsky performance status were noted in 14 of 23 cases of SpCC, expressed mainly by pain alleviation and restoration of independence. The median survival after the diagnosis of SpCC was 5 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiotherapy is an important tool in palliating SpCC in patients with STS.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Bone and Soft Tissue Oncology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Tel-Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv, Israel. merimsky@zahav.net.il
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Merimsky
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kollender
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bokstein
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Issakov
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Flusser
authors.forename: Moshe J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Inbar
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meller
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bickels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000145:classification / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary