J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2013 Apr;53(4):228-234. 10.3340/jkns.2013.53.4.228.

Survival and Recurrence Rate after Treatment for Primary Spinal Sarcomas

• Cho W
• Chang UK

• KMID: 1426209
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2013.53.4.228

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
We have limited understanding on the presentation and survival of primary spinal sarcomas. The survival, recurrence rate, and related prognostic factors were investigated after treatment for primary sarcomas of the spine.
METHODS
Retrospective analysis of medical records and radiological data was done for 29 patients in whom treatment was performed due to primary sarcoma of the spine from 2000 to 2010. As for treatment method, non-radical operation, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy were simultaneously or sequentially combined. Overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), ambulatory function, and pain status were analyzed. In addition, factors affecting survival and recurrence were analyzed : age (< or =42 or > or =43), gender, tumor histologic type, lesion location (mobile spine or rigid spine), weakness at diagnosis, pain at diagnosis, ambulation at diagnosis, initial treatment, radiation therapy, kind of irradiation, surgery, chemotherapy and distant metastasis.
RESULTS
Median OS was 60 months, the recurrence rate was 79.3% and median PFS was 26 months. Patients with distant metastasis showed significantly shorter survival than those without metastasis. No factors were found to be significant relating to recurrence. Prognostic factor associated with walking ability was the presence of weakness at diagnosis.
CONCLUSION
Primary spinal sarcomas are difficult to cure and show high recurrence rate. However, the development of new treatment methods is improving survival.

Keyword

Primary spinal sarcoma; Survival; Recurrence; Prognosis

MeSH Terms

Disease-Free Survival
Humans
Medical Records
Neoplasm Metastasis
Prognosis
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Sarcoma
Spine
Walking

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Kaplan-Meier estimated survival in patients with primary sarcoma of the spine according to histologic type. Median values of survival were 30 months (group I), 60 months (group II), and 74 months (group III). There was no statistical significance among three groups (p=0.427).

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  Fig. 2 The survival difference between group with distant metastasis and group without metastasis. Median values were 30 months (metastasis) and 85 months (no metastasis) (p=0.002).

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  Fig. 3 The rate of patients who maintain ambulatory function at the last follow-up. In patients who did not have weakness at initial diagnosis, 86.7% of patients could walk at the last follow-up. However, in patients who had weakness at initial diagnosis, 42.9% could maintain ambulatory function at the last follow-up (p=0.013).

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