title: Radiation Therapy for Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is the first study to investigate patients with metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients were analyzed with regard to survival and motor dysfunction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of seven factors (age, affected vertebrae, ambulatory status, bone lesions, other distant metastases, time developing motor dysfunction, performance score) ambulatory status (p=0.005) and distant metastases (p=0.032) had a significant influence on survival. Both factors were used as a predictive tool (points: not ambulatory 0, ambulatory 1, distant metastases 0, no distant metastases 1). Total scores were 0, 1 or 2 points. Three-month survival rates were 0%, 67% and 100%, six-month survival rates 0%, 0% and 100%. Progression of motor dysfunction was prevented in 63% of patients; time developing motor deficits showed a trend (p=0.08).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many patients with MSCC from HCC have a short survival, which can be predicted with a new tool. Radiation therapy can stop progression of motor dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany Rades.Dirk@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rades
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahlke
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany Medical Practice for Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gebauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartscht
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*
keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; metastatic spinal cord compression; motor dysfunction; radiation therapy; survival