Patient-Reported Outcomes for Spine Oncology: A Narrative Review

Spine tumors, both primary and metastatic, impose significant morbidity and mortality on patients and physicians. Patient-reported outcomes are valuable tools to assess a patient's impression of their health status and enhance communication between physicians and patients. Various spine generic patient-reported outcome tools have traditionally been used but have not been validated in the spine tumor patient population. The Spine Oncology Study Group Outcome Questionnaire, which is disease-specific for the metastatic spine patient population, has been shown to have strong validity, even across multiple languages. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, which has recently been developed, employs computerized adaptive testing to assess multiple health domains. It has been shown to capture information in both generic and specific questionnaires and has the potential to be used as a universal tool in the spine oncology patient population. Further long-term studies, as well as, cross-cultural adaptations, are needed to validate Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System's applicability and effectiveness.