Spinal carcinomatous metastases. Retrospective study of 67 surgically treated cases.

A series of 67 surgically treated spinal carcinomatous metastases is reviewed in order to establish the role played by surgery in the management of such a disease. The authors compare the results achieved in two groups of patients treated with a different therapeutic approach: either surgery alone or surgery associated with other therapies (mainly radiotherapy). On this basis, although no ideal treatment for spinal epidural metastases can be established, the authors suggest decompressive laminectomy as a first choice approach in the treatment of patients bearing a scarcely radiosensitive spinal metastasis with a rapidly deteriorating motor function.