title: Metastatic disease in the thoracic and lumbar spine: evaluation and management.
abstract: Spinal metastases are found in most patients who die of cancer. The number of patients with symptomatic spinal metastases likely will increase as therapy for the primary disease improves and as cardiovascular mortality decreases. Understanding the epidemiology of metastatic spine disease and its presentation is essential to developing a diagnostic strategy. Treatment may involve chemotherapy, corticosteroids, radiotherapy, surgery, and/or percutaneous procedures (eg, vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty). A rational treatment plan can help improve quality of life, preserve neurologic function, and prolong survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Jacob M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Buchowski
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care; D010808:Physical Examination; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology