title: Profile of Malignant Spinal Cord Compression: One Year Study at Regional Cancer Center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malignant spinal cord compression is an oncologic emergency, unless diagnosed early and treated appropriately, can lead to permanent neurological impairment and compromised quality of life of patients. We analyzed the epidemiology and the effect of common interventions on the outcome in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective study of 77 patients in the year 2014 and recorded relevant patient and disease characteristics. All patients received corticosteroids. Eight patients were operated upon, and radiotherapy was delivered in 62 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the patients were in the age group of 41-60 years and there was no gender preponderance in patients. Female breast cancer was the most common incident (15.5%) malignancy followed by multiple myeloma, lung, and prostatic carcinoma. Lower dorsal spine was the most common site of compression (35%) followed by lumbar (31%) and mid-dorsal (26%) spine. 70 (91%) patients had cord compression subsequent to bone metastasis while as other patients had leptomeningeal metastasis. In 31 (40%) patients, spinal cord compression was the presenting symptom. Overall, only 26 patients had motor improvement after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Grade of power before treatment was predictive of response to treatment and overall outcome of motor or sensory functions. Neurodeficit of more than 10 days duration was associated with poor outcome in neurological function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Malik Tariq
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rasool
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Kaneez
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fatima
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Najmi Arshad
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Manzoor
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Syed Arshad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Lone Mohammad
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Maqbool
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Wani Shaqul
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Qamar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Fir
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Afroz
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Nazir Ahmad
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Saqib Ahmad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Manan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shah
keywords: Cord compression; Motor function; Patient outcome; Radiotherapy