Evaluation of Five Radiation Schedules and Prognostic Factors for Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression

Abstract

Purpose To study five radiotherapy (RT) schedules and potential prognostic factors for functional outcome in metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). Patients and Methods One thousand three hundred four patients who were irradiated from January 1992 to December 2003 were included in this retrospective review. The schedules of 1 × 8 Gy in 1 day (n = 261), 5 × 4 Gy in 1 week (n = 279), 10 × 3 Gy in 2 weeks (n = 274), 15 × 2.5 Gy in 3 weeks (n = 233), and 20 × 2 Gy in 4 weeks (n = 257) were compared for motor function, ambulatory status, and in-field recurrences. The following potential prognostic factors were investigated: age, sex, performance status, histology, number of involved vertebra, interval from cancer diagnosis to MSCC, pretreatment ambulatory status, and time of developing motor deficits before RT. A multivariate analysis was performed with the ordered logit model. Results Motor function improved in 26% (1 × 8 Gy), 28% (5 × 4 Gy), 27% (10 × 3 Gy), 31% (15 × 2.5 Gy), and 28% (20 × 2 Gy); and po...