Original Article

SURGICAL TREATMENTIN METASTATIC TUMORS OF THE SPINE

  • Erol YALNIZ
  • Mert ÇİFTDEMİR
  • Ali Rıza KARAŞAHİN
  • Barış YILMAZ

J Turk Spinal Surg 2008;19(1):23-26

Metastatic tumors are the most frequent malignant destructive lesions involving the spine. Lung and breast cancers are the most frequent cancers that spread to the spine. Generally metastatic lesions are seen at the thoracal spine. Affected patients generally experience severe back pain and disability related to these lesions. As the disease develops, instability, pathological fractures and related neurological damage may occur. Surgical intervention is based on wide resection of the tumor and restoring the spinal stability. Spinal metastatic lesions should be managed in a multidisciplinary manner. The aim of surgery in metastatic lesions of the spine is to produce analsegia and to improve the quality of daily living activities of the patients.

Keywords: Metastasis, spinal tumor, surgical treatment, cancer