[Therapeutic results in spinal tumor metastases involving neurologic deficit]

Between 1976 and 1982 primary or secondary intraspinal malignant lymphomas and metastases of solid tumours with neurologic defects were found in 118 hospitalised patients. A total of 126 episodes of spinal and caudal compressions were observed. Nearly half of all tumour diagnoses were breast and prostatic carcinomas. Segments Th 3-6 were mainly involved. Symptoms of compression were the first objective hints of malignant disease in every third patient. Local and (or) radicular pains were reported as first symptoms by 80% of patients. Therapeutic success was considered satisfactory (group A) if patients were able to walk freely 3 months after initiation of treatment or isolated loss of sensitivity or defects of urination or defaecation could not be demonstrated any longer. Results were classified as unsatisfactory (group B) if the above-mentioned aims of treatment could not be achieved within this time. After individualised carefully monitored treatment, survival of patients of group A was significantly longer after 12 and 24 months than in patients of group B. Probability of survival is mainly influenced by rapid response to treatment, by tumour histology, by severity of neurologic defects and by the chosen treatment regime.