title: [Metastatic tumor of thoracic and lumbar spine: prospective study comparing the surgery and radiotherapy vs external immobilization with radiotherapy].
abstract: Bone metastases at the thoracic and lumbar segment of the spine are usually presented with painful sensation and medullar compression. The treatment is based on the clinical and neurological conditions of the patient and the degree of tumor invasion. In the present study, 32 patients with spinal metastasis of thoracic and lumbar segment were prospectively analyzed. These patients were treated by decompression and internal stabilization followed by radiotherapy or irradiation with external immobilization. The election of the groups was in accordance with the tumor radiotherapy sensitivity, clinical conditions, spinal stability, medullar or nerve compression and patient's decision. The Frankel scale and pain visual test were applied at the moment of diagnosis and after 1 and 6 months. The surgical group had better results with preserving the ambulation longer and significant reduction of pain.
authors.affiliation: Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. asdrúbal@doctor.com
authors.forename: Asdrubal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falavigna
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Righesso Neto
authors.forename: Ana Elisa Empinotti
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ioppi
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grasselli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae