Spinal Metastases: Diagnosis and Management

Abstract

The management of the patient affected by spinal metastases requires an integrated multidisciplinary approach. Surgery and radiotherapy being the mainstay of the treatment of these fragile patients, clinical and surgical trials are required to determine which patients will benefit most from these treatments when affected by metastatic epidural spinal cord compression. In recent years, a newer and more important role for radiotherapy is emerging for these patients; in particular, stereotactic radiosurgery is used as an adjuvant to the decompressive surgery for management of these patients.