title: Stereotactic body radiotherapy is an effective treatment in reirradiating spinal metastases: current status and practical considerations for safe practice.
abstract: Spinal metastases are a relatively common manifestation in advanced cancer patients. Low-dose conventional radiotherapy has long been the mainstay of treatment under the assumption that patients have a limited life expectancy in the order of 3-6 months. However, with new developments in systemic therapies, patients are surviving longer than expected. As the spinal retreatment rates, secondary to conventional radiation, can approach 20-50%, retreatments are likely to be more frequent. Rather than a second course of even lower-dose conventional radiation, spine stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been developed predominantly to overcome the limitations of conventional reirradiation. Spine SBRT permits a second course of high-dose radiation aimed at local tumor control while sparing the spinal cord, and other surrounding normal tissues, of a toxic dose. The focus of this review is to provide an overview of reirradiation spine SBRT, and address key issues surrounding safe and effective practice.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Giuseppina Laura
authors: GL
authors: Masucci
authors: Eugene
authors: E
authors: Yu
authors: Lijun
authors: L
authors: Ma
authors: Eric L
authors: EL
authors: Chang
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Letourneau
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Lo
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Leung
authors: Sam
authors: S
authors: Chao
authors: Derek
authors: D
authors: Hyde
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Gorgulho
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Muacevic
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Larson
authors: Michael G
authors: MG
authors: Fehlings
authors: Arjun
authors: A
authors: Sahgal
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016634:Radiosurgery; D019233:Retreatment; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*