Surgical results of metastatic spinal cord compression secondary to non-small cell lung cancer

The results for 37 surgical interventions in 31 consecutive patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with symptomatic spinal cord compression were reviewed retrospectively.

To evaluate postoperative outcomes and survival rates of NSCLC patients surgically treated for symptomatic spinal metastasis.

For patients with spinal cord compression secondary to lung cancer, the prognosis is usually poor. However, with the development of new chemotherapeutic drugs and targeted therapeutic agents, the survival rate may be better.

From November 2000 to March 2005, 31 patients with symptomatic metastatic spinal cord compression secondary to NSCLC underwent palliative surgery using a posterolateral transpedicular approach (PTA) or combined posterior and anterior procedures. The indication for surgery was neurologic progression due to spinal cord compression.

The patients ranged in age from 20 to 81 years (mean, 61.4 years). Twenty-eight patients (90%) underwent PTA, and 3 patients had combined posterior and anterior procedures. Neurologic improvement by at least one Frankel grade was noted in 25 of 31 cases (80%). Overall, 74% of patients (23 of 31) were able to walk after surgery. There was no case of intraoperative mortality, but two deaths occurred in the postoperative period. Median survival time was 8.8 months.

Even though lung cancer is considered an aggressive tumor, it is justifiable to aggressively treat patients with symptomatic spinal cord compression. Surgery by PTA can lead to good results in these patients.