Surgical treatment of spinal tumors

The surgical treatment of spinal tumors depends on a host of factors that include: the type of tumor and its location within the spine, the presence or absence of neural compression, the portion of the vertebrae involved, the anticipated mode of spinal failure, the biology of the tumor, the anticipated life expectancy of the patient, and the type of prior or subsequent adjuvant treatment. Two thirds of all spinal tumors arise from the vertebral body and only 1/3 originate from the posterior elements. Malignant tumors more commonly involve the vertebral body and benign lesions usually are located posteriorly. Malignant tumors, because of their aggressive nature and their propensity for anterior vertebral body involvement, are associated with a higher incidence of neurologic deficit than are benign lesions. The surgical treatment of spinal tumors is dictated largely by the location of the tumor within the spine; anterior vertebral body tumors generally should be approached anteriorly, whereas posterior lesions should be approached posteriorly. Because most malignant tumors, whether primary or secondary (metastatic), are located anteriorly within the vertebral body, most surgery for malignant tumors should be approached anteriorly. Anterior decompression should be accompanied by reconstruction with biologic materials such as autogenous bone graft unless life expectancy is certain to be very limited (<6 months).