title: Management of metastatic spinal cord compression.
abstract: Spinal cord compression (SCC) from spinal metastasis is a common complication in cancer and if left untreated, permanent paraplegia or quadriplegia will occur. Timely diagnosis is crucial in preventing permanent neurologic damage. Once SCC is suspected, diagnostic imaging of the spine should be obtained to confirm diagnosis. Treatment consists of surgery, radiotherapy or a combination of both. Stereotactic body radiotherapy has also been incorporated into the management of SCC. The treatment decision should be made based on multiple factors, including tumor histology, retropulsion of bony fragments, performance status of the patient and status of extraspinal systemic disease. This review focuses on the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of SCC.
authors.affiliation: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiue
authors.forename: Arjun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahgal
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Nina A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Mayr
authors.forename: Jian Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cavaliere
authors.forename: Ehud
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mendel
authors.forename: Simon S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*