scholarly journals The Role of a Navigational Radiofrequency Ablation Device and Concurrent Vertebral Augmentation for Treatment of Difficult-to-Reach Spinal Metastases

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 4004-4015
Author(s):  
Claudio Pusceddu ◽  
Davide De Francesco ◽  
Luca Melis ◽  
Nicola Ballicu ◽  
Alessandro Fancellu

Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a navigational radiofrequency ablation device with concurrent vertebral augmentation in the treatment of posterior vertebral body metastatic lesions, which are technically difficult to access. Primary outcomes of the study were evaluation of pain palliation and radiologic assessment of local tumor control. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five patients with 41 vertebral spinal metastases involving the posterior vertebral body underwent computed tomography-guided percutaneous targeted radiofrequency ablation, with a navigational radiofrequency ablation device, associated with vertebral augmentation. Twenty-one patients (60%) had 1 or 2 metastatic lesions (Group A) and fourteen (40%) patients had multiple (>2) vertebral lesions (Group B). Changes in pain severity were evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS). Metastatic lesions were evaluated in terms of radiological local control. Results: The procedure was technically successful in all the treated vertebrae. Among the symptomatic patients, the mean VAS score dropped from 5.7 (95% CI 4.9–6.5) before tRFA and to 0.9 (95% CI 0.4–1.3) after tRFA (p < 0.001). The mean decrease in VAS score between baseline and one week follow up was 4.8 (95% CI 4.2–5.4). VAS decrease over time between one week and one year following radiofrequency ablation was similar, suggesting that pain relief was immediate and durable. Neither patients with 1–2 vertebral metastases, nor those with multiple lesions, showed radiological signs of local progression or recurrence of the tumor in the index vertebrae during a median follow up of 19 months (4–46 months) and 10 months (4–37 months), respectively. Conclusion: Treatment of spinal metastases with a navigational radiofrequency ablation device and vertebral augmentation can be used to obtain local tumor control with immediate and durable pain relief, providing effective treatment in the multimodality management of difficult-to-reach spinal metastases.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Christine Park ◽  
Elizabeth P. Howell ◽  
Vikram A. Mehta ◽  
Luis Ramirez ◽  
Meghan J. Price ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEStereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) offers efficient, noninvasive treatment of spinal neoplasms. Single-fraction (SF) high-dose SBRT has a relatively narrow therapeutic window, while hypofractionated delivery of SBRT may have an improved safety profile with similar efficacy. Because the optimal approach of delivery is unknown, the authors examined whether hypofractionated SBRT improves pain and/or functional outcomes and results in better tumor control compared with SF-SBRT.METHODSThis is a single-institution retrospective study of adult patients with spinal metastases treated with SF- or three-fraction (3F) SBRT from 2008 to 2019. Demographics and baseline characteristics, radiographic data, and posttreatment outcomes at a minimum follow-up of 3 months are reported.RESULTSOf the 156 patients included in the study, 70 (44.9%) underwent SF-SBRT (median total dose 1700 cGy) and 86 (55.1%) underwent 3F-SBRT (median total dose 2100 cGy). At baseline, a higher proportion of patients in the 3F-SBRT group had a worse baseline profile, including severity of pain (p < 0.05), average use of pain medication (p < 0.001), and functional scores (p < 0.05) compared with the SF-SBRT cohort. At the 3-month follow-up, the 3F-SBRT cohort experienced a greater frequency of improvement in pain compared with the SF-SBRT group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, patients treated with 3F-SBRT demonstrated a higher frequency of improved Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) scores (p < 0.05) compared with those treated with SF-SBRT, with no significant difference in the frequency of improvement in modified Rankin Scale scores. Local tumor control did not differ significantly between the two cohorts.CONCLUSIONSPatients who received spinal 3F-SBRT more frequently achieved significant pain relief and an increased frequency of improvement in KPS compared with those treated with SF-SBRT. Local tumor control was similar in the two groups. Future work is needed to establish the relationship between fractionation schedule and clinical outcomes.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9550-9550
Author(s):  
Peter Andrew ◽  
Sandra Jerat ◽  
Mario Valdes ◽  
Richard M. Lee-Ying ◽  
Stephen O'Connor

9550 Background: Local recurrence is a frequent outcome post radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for local control of lung tumors. We sought to examine local tumor control and survival benefits of RFA plus post-ablation chemotherapy versus RFA alone for management of lung tumors in non-surgical patients. Methods: Search strategy: MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases from January 2000 to December 2012. Inclusion criteria: RFA +/- post-ablation chemotherapy in non-surgical patients with solid lung tumors. Exclusion criteria: Post-RFA radiation therapy, biologics, brachytherapy, or other ablation modalities. Outcomes: Local tumor progression (LTP), overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) at 12 month follow-up. Statistical analysis: Fixed effect analyses, bias assessment, and sensitivity analyses (BioStat Inc., NJ, USA). Results: RFA plus post-ablation chemotherapy group: 11 clinical studies, 684 patients (mean age 64 years [range 50 to 74]; 434 men, ECOG ≤2), ablation of 1,314 lung tumors, with a 4:1 ratio being <3cm versus ≥3cm in diameter, and a 1:4 ratio being primary versus metastatic. RFA alone group: 38 clinical studies, 1,874 patients (mean age 65 years [range 49 to 75]; 1,041 men, ECOG ≤2), ablation of 2,604 lung tumors, with a 2.1:1 ratio being <3cm versus ≥3cm in diameter, and a 1:1 ratio being primary versus metastatic. RFA plus post-ablation chemotherapy versus RFA alone: LTP of 15% over median follow-up of 31 months [range 12 to 59]) versus 19% over median follow-up of 21 months [range 12 to 29]); OR 0.73 (95% CI: 0.61-0.86, p<0.05) at 12 month follow-up. OS was 89% versus 78%, respectively, at 12 month follow-up; OR 1.52 (95% CI: 1.16-2.00, p=0.003). DFS was 90% versus 82%, respectively, at 12 month follow-up; OR 3.18 (95% CI: 2.04-4.96, p<0.05). Sensitivity analyses were robust, publication bias relatively narrow, and heterogeneity within acceptable limits; Q statistic<21; p>0.13 for all outcomes. Conclusions: This meta-analysis reveals that RFA plus post-ablation chemotherapy of lung tumors yields improved outcomes in terms of LTP, OS, and DFS compared with RFA alone.


2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 631-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam N Wallace ◽  
Randy O Chang ◽  
Anderanik Tomasian ◽  
Jack W Jennings

Radiofrequency ablation is a valuable therapy for palliation of painful spinal metastases and local tumor control; however, accessing the vertebral body can be difficult and time consuming with traditional manual needles. Herein, we report our initial experience using a drill-assisted, fluoroscopy-guided technique for accessing the vertebral body for radiofrequency ablation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 113 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 90-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Yashar S. Kalani ◽  
Aristotelis S. Filippidis ◽  
Maziyar A. Kalani ◽  
Nader Sanai ◽  
David Brachman ◽  
...  

Object Resection and whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) have classically been the standard treatment for a single metastasis to the brain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) as an alternative to WBRT in patients who had undergone resection and to evaluate patient survival and local tumor control. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of 150 patients treated with a combination of stereotactic radiosurgery and resection of a cranial metastasis at their institution between April 1997 and September 2009. Patients who had multiple lesions or underwent both WBRT and GKS were excluded, as were patients for whom survival data beyond the initial treatment were not available. Clinical and imaging follow-up was assessed using notes from clinic visits and MR imaging studies when available. Follow-up data beyond the initial treatment and survival data were available for 68 patients. Results The study included 37 women (54.4%) and 31 men (45.6%) (mean age 60 years, range 28–89 years). In 45 patients (66.2%) there was systemic control of the primary tumor when the cranial metastasis was identified. The median duration between resection and radiosurgery was 15.5 days. The median volume of the treated cavity was 10.35 cm3 (range 0.9–45.4 cm3), and the median dose to the cavity margin was 15 Gy (range 14–30 Gy), delivered to the 50% isodose line (range 50%–76% isodose line). The patients' median preradiosurgery Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score was 90 (range 40–100). During the follow-up period we identified 27 patients (39.7%) with recurrent tumor located either local or distant to the site of treatment. The median time from primary treatment of metastasis to recurrence was 10.6 months. The patients' median length of survival (interval between first treatment of cerebral metastasis and last follow-up) was 13.2 months. For the patient who died during follow-up, the median time from diagnosis of cerebral metastasis to death was 11.5 months. The median duration of survival from diagnosis of the primary cancer to last follow-up was 30.2 months. Patients with a pretreatment KPS score ≥ 90 had a median survival time of 23.2 months, and patients with a pretreatment KPS score < 90 had a median survival time of 10 months (p < 0.008). Systemic control of disease at the time of metastasis was not predictive of increased survival duration, although it did tend to improve survival. Conclusions Although the debate about the ideal form of radiation treatment after resection continues, these findings indicate that GKS combined with surgery offers comparable survival duration and local tumor control to WBRT for patients with a diagnosis of a single metastasis.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 905-911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Sheehan ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
John Flickinger ◽  
L. Dade Lunsford

Abstract OBJECTIVE Hemangiopericytomas are highly aggressive meningeal tumors with tendencies for recurrence and metastasis. The purpose of this retrospective, single-institution review was to evaluate the efficacy and role of stereotactic radiosurgery in the management of recurrent hemangiopericytomas. METHODS We reviewed data for patients who underwent stereotactic radiosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh between 1987 and 2001. Fourteen patients underwent radiosurgery for 15 discrete tumors. Prior treatments included transsphenoidal resection (n = 1), craniotomy and resection (n = 27), embolization (n = 1), and conventional radiotherapy (n = 7). Clinical and radiological responses were evaluated. Follow-up periods varied from 5 to 76 months (mean, 31.3 mo; median, 21 mo). The mean radiation dose to the tumor margin was 15 Gy. RESULTS Seventy-nine percent of patients (11 of 14 patients) with recurrent hemangiopericytomas demonstrated local tumor control after radiosurgery. Twelve of 15 tumors (i.e., 80%) dramatically decreased in size on follow-up imaging scans. Regional intracranial recurrences were retreated with radiosurgery for two patients (i.e., 15%); neither of those two patients experienced long-term tumor control. Local recurrences occurred 12 to 75 months (median, 21 mo) after radiosurgery. Local tumor control and survival rates at 5 years after radiosurgery were 76 and 100%, respectively (Kaplan-Meier method). We could not correlate prior irradiation or tumor size with tumor control. Twenty-nine percent of the patients (4 of 14 patients) developed remote metastases. Radiosurgery did not seem to offer protection against the development of intra- or extracranial metastases. CONCLUSION Gamma knife radiosurgery provided local tumor control for 80% of recurrent hemangiopericytomas. When residual tumor is identified after resection or radiotherapy, early radiosurgery should be considered as a feasible treatment modality. Despite local tumor control, patients are still at risk for distant metastasis. Diligent clinical and radiological follow-up monitoring is necessary.


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