Radiotherapy Alone for Malignant Spinal Cord Compression in Young Men with Seminoma

Seminomas are very radiosensitive tumors. Therefore, patients with malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) from seminoma may not require for neurosurgery in addition to radiotherapy. In this study, radiotherapy alone was evaluated in young men with MSCC from seminoma.

Four young men with MSCC due to vertebral lesions from metastatic seminoma received radiotherapy alone. The impact of radiotherapy on motor function and gait function, local control of MSCC and survival were retrospectively evaluated.

All patients showed improvement of motor function following irradiation. All patients who were not able to walk prior to radiotherapy regained their walking ability. One-year and two-year local control rates were 100% and 100%, respectively. Survival rates at one and two years were 75% and 75%, respectively.

Radiotherapy alone resulted in excellent outcomes. If clear indications for neurosurgery are not given, radiotherapy alone can be considered the treatment of choice for patients with MSCC from seminoma.