Research Shows Effectiveness of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Spinal Tumors

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been shown to be a highly effective alternative treatment for some cancer patients with spinal metastases, according to a new study.

"These data confirm the established method of cancer treatment used on spinal tumors and other hard to reach areas of the body, due to the precisely targeted radiation dose and noninvasive nature of radiosurgery,” said James G. Schwade, M.D., from the University of Texas in Houston (USA), and executive director of the CyberKnife Centers of Miami and Palm Beach, FL, USA.

Dr. Schwade's study was presented at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons annual meeting in San Diego, CA, USA, in August 2009. "SBRT offers patients a minimally invasive treatment option they previously did not have,” said Dr. Eric L. Chang. "We are also able to offer patients a degree of pain control and to decrease their pain medications, minimizing the side effects from those medications.”

In the study, researchers evaluated 121 cancer patients with metastases to the spine who underwent intensity-modulated, near simultaneous, computed tomography (CT) image-guided SBRT, according to Dr. Chang. Researchers used a stereotactic body frame system consisting of a whole-body vacuum cushion and plastic fixation sheet used to immobilize patients for the treatment period, which lasts approximately one hour.

The team performed magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the spine within 30 days of patient enrollment, every three months for the first year, and every six months after that. Patients also evaluated their own pain and other discomfort using instruments including the validated Brief Pain Inventory and the M.D. Anderson [Houston, TX, USA] Symptom Inventory.

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