Survival rate in patients having painful spinal metastases and normal neurological behavior was analysed by evaluating major potential prognostic factors after radiotherapy in patients.
173 patients having spinal metastases with normal neurological function were analysed. The following prognostic factors were analysed: parenchyma cells and primary site, age, sex, haemoglobin (Hb) and serum albumin levels, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), analgesic usage, counting of visceral and extraspinal bone metastases, spinal canal stenosis condition, metastatic SC compression, and MRI study. Critical evaluation of response towards ongoing treatment, use of bisphosphonates and radiotherapy were done. A simple assessment scale was used.
Three survival categories could be predicted. The survival probabilities for category 1–3 were 13%, 46% and 94% at 6 months while 4%, 28% and 79% at 12 months, respectively. The median survival periods were calculated to be 2.1, 5.5 and 24.9 months for categories 1-3 respectively (P < 0.001).
The albumin level, parenchymal cell study, KPS, and counting of visceral metastases were important factors whose findings were consistent with previous trial results. Impacts of analgesics were significant in the analyses and can be verified in future trials. Self-reported pain intensity, response to radiotherapy, and MRI studies did not impact survival period.
Ref- https://www.clinicaloncologyonline.net/article/S0936-6555(15)00003-5/fulltext
