State-of-the-art of minimally invasive treatments of bone metastases

Bone metastases is a common manifestation of advanced malignant tumors. With the recent advances in medical technology, the survival period of patients with malignant tumors is prolonged, and the probability of bone metastases is significantly increased. Approximately 70% to 80% of patients with breast or prostate cancer will eventually develop bone metastases. In addition, thyroid, lung, and kidney carcinomas are all known to cause bone metastases, with a 30% to 40% incidence upon postmortem assessment. Bone metastases often lead to severe pain, pathological fractures, and nerve damage and have become a critical factor affecting the quality of life and life expectancy of cancer patients. Although treatments for bone metastases are diverse, choosing the appropriate treatment is difficult. Both conservative treatment and open surgery have certain drawbacks and may not be appropriate for all patients. Interventional procedures have the advantages of less trauma with quicker recovery and represent a viable alternative. This review provides updates on the progress of research on the interventional treatment of bone metastases and directions regarding relevant further studies.