Spinal laser interstitial thermal therapy and radiotherapy for thoracic metastatic epidural spinal cord compression

Spinal laser interstitial thermal therapy (sLITT) is a less invasive alternative to surgery for metastatic epidural spinal cord compression. Here, we analyze outcomes of patients treated with sLITT either in conjunction with radiotherapy or as a standalone salvage therapy.

We included patients with thoracic vertebral metastatic cord compression treated with sLITT. Outcomes included freedom from local failure (FFLF) and overall survival (OS). Factors associated with FFLF were identified with univariable and multivariable analyses via a Cox proportional hazards model.

Between 2013-2022, 129 patients received sLITT to 144 vertebral segments; 69% were radiotherapy naïve, 81% were radioresistant histologies, and 74% were centered in the vertebral body. Median age was 61 years. Pre-sLITT Bilsky score was 3 in 28%, 2 in 33%, and 1c in 37%. Radiotherapy was delivered in conjunction with sLITT for 80% of cases, including 68% that received stereotactic radiotherapy, at a median of 5 days after sLITT. Median follow-up was 9.1 months. One-year FFLF and OS was 80% and 78%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, variables independently associated with adverse FFLF included paraspinal/foraminal disease location (p = 0.001), and post-sLITT imaging Bilsky score of 2 (p = 0.073) or 3 (p = 0.011). Prior radiotherapy, technique of radiotherapy, and time between radiotherapy and sLITT were not associated with FFLF.

sLITT with radiotherapy is an effective minimally invasive treatment approach for thoracic metastatic epidural spinal cord compression. Early treatment response may serve as a prognostic imaging biomarker.