title: The efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty for vertebral metastases associated with solid malignancies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Percutaneous vertebroplasty appears beneficial for patients with acute compression fractures of multiple aetiologies including myeloma, osteoporosis and trauma. There are few reports on its use in the setting of metastatic solid malignancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified all individuals who had undergone percutaneous vertebroplasty at our institution since 2004 and focused on those with metastatic solid malignancies. Their clinical characteristics and outcomes were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 136 cases that underwent percutaneous vertebroplasties, 19 were performed mainly in breast, prostate, lung and renal cancers. Of these 19 cases, 10 patients (53%) were treated for solitary lesions, 3 (16%) were injected at two levels and the remaining 6 cases (31%) underwent cement injection at three levels. The majority of individuals (84%) reported short- and long-term symptomatic improvements. At a median follow-up of one year, six patients have died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous vertebroplasty appears as an effective palliative procedure in patients with compression fractures secondary to metastatic solid malignancy. Its use can be successfully combined with other treatment modalities (radiotherapy and chemotherapy).
authors.affiliation: The Department of Medical Oncology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, The Hammersmith Hospitals, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF, UK.
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: Jacqueline S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: R Charles
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Coombes
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gishen
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stebbing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000379:methods*