title: Estimating the Survival of Elderly Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma Presenting with Malignant Spinal Cord Compression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a tool for predicting survival of elderly patients with malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) from renal cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 71 elderly patients, 10 factors were analyzed. Predictive scores were generated based on 6-month survival rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Longer interval from renal cell carcinoma diagnosis to MSCC (p=0.019), lack of visceral metastases (p<0.001), slower progression of motor deficits (p<0.001), ambulation (p<0.001) and better performance status (p=0.002) were positive predictors. On multivariate analysis, interval from renal cell carcinoma diagnosis to MSCC (p=0.022), visceral metastases (p<0.001), time to developing motor dysfunction (p=0.041), gait function (p=0.002) and performance status (p=0.017) remained significant. Predictive scores were 17 to 36 points. Four groups were created: 17-23, 24-26, 27-29 and 30-36 points. Six-month survival rates were 8%, 30%, 69% and 100%, respectively (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This tool improves estimation of survival and personalized treatment options in elderly patients with MSCC from renal cell carcinoma.
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, Consorcio Hospital, Castellón, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Conde-Moreno
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Vizcaya, Spain.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cacicedo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szegedin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Schild
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate
keywords: Renal cell carcinoma; elderly; malignant spinal cord compression; predictive tool; survival