Tumor ‘Separation Surgery’ Followed by Stereotactic Radiosurgery Found Safe, Effective in Controlling Spinal Metastases

Researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York have found that tumor “separation surgery,” followed by high-dose hypofractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or high-dose single-fraction SRS, is safe and effective in controlling spinal metastases, regardless of the radiosensitivity of the particular tumor type that has invaded the spine. These findings are highlighted in “Local disease control for spinal metastases following ‘separation surgery’ and adjuvant hypofractionated or high-dose single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery: outcome analysis in 186 patients. Clinical article,” by Ilya Laufer, MD, and colleagues, which appears in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.

For the article, authors reviewed and analyzed data in the charts of 186 patients who presented with epidural spinal cord compression due to spinal metastases. All of these patients underwent tumor separation surgery to decompress the spinal cord and stabilize the spine sometime between 2002 and 2011. During this procedure, the tumor was dissected away from the spinal cord, or separated, providing a space between the spinal dura and any remaining tumor. For more information, click here to read the full release.