title: Postoperative spine imaging in cancer patients.
abstract: Primary or metastatic spine tumors can present with pain and/or neurologic compromise depending on their location within the spinal axis. Metastases and multiple myeloma comprise most of these lesions. Management of spinal tumors includes surgical decompression with stabilization (neo), adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy, curettage, bone grafting, bone marrow replacement, and palliative treatment with vertebral augmentation. Pre- and postoperative imaging plays a critical role in the diagnosis and management of patients with spinal tumors. This article reviews postoperative imaging of the spine, including imaging protocols, immediate and long-term routine imaging findings, and emergent findings in symptomatic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Winthrop-University Hospital, 259 First Street, Mineola, NY 11501, USA.
authors.forename: Esther E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Coronel
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Winthrop-University Hospital, 259 First Street, Mineola, NY 11501, USA.
authors.forename: Ruby J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lien
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Winthrop-University Hospital, 259 First Street, Mineola, NY 11501, USA. Electronic address: oortiz@winthrop.org.
authors.forename: A Orlando
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ortiz
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
keywords: Complications; Imaging; Metastases; Postoperative spine; Spinal surgery; Spinal tumors; Spine tumors