Radiotherapy (RT) alone is the most frequently applied treatment modality for metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). Short-course RT (overall treatment time one week or less) provides a similar functional outcome to longer programmes. Therefore, short-course RT should be seriously considered for many MSCC patients, especially for those with a poor survival prognosis. By contrast, a considerable proportion of MSCC patients live long enough to experience a local recurrence of MSCC in the previously irradiated area of the spinal cord. Long-course RT (30–40Gy in two to four weeks) results in significantly better local control than short-course RT and should therefore be administered to patients with a more favourable survival prognosis. Survival can be estimated with a newly developed scoring system. If re-irradiation is required, a second course of RT can be safely administered in most cases after primary short-course RT. After primary long-course RT, re-irradiation should optimally be performed with high-precision techniques in order to reduce the risk of radiation-related myelopathy.
Effectiveness of radiotherapy for metastatic spinal cord compression in patients with short life expectancy