Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026
Laparoscopic Pancreatoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Cancer Using In-Situ No-Touch Isolation Technique
Published on: February 2, 2022
Metastatic spinal cord compression from pancreatic cancer
Dirk Rades1, Stefan Huttenlocher2, Steven E Schild3
1Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany Rades.Dirk@gmx.net.
Background/Aim:
Pancreatic cancer is an extremely rare entity in patients with metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC). This study aimed to identify prognostic factors for functional outcome and survival following irradiation.
Patients And Methods:
Ten variables were investigated in 15 patients: age, gender, performance score, time from diagnosis of pancreatic cancer to MESCC, number of involved vertebrae, ambulatory status, bone metastases, organ metastases, time developing motor deficits, and the radiation schedule (1×8 Gy vs. fractionated radiotherapy schedules).
Results:
Better post-treatment motor function was significantly associated with absence of organ metastases (p=0.025). Better survival was also significantly associated with absence of organ metastases: 6-month survival rates were 100% and 9%, respectively (p=0.006). The radiation schedule had no significant impact on treatment outcomes.
Conclusion:
Patients with organ metastases have a very limited life expectancy and are good candidates for irradiation with 1×8 Gy instead of fractionated schedules.
