Purpose This study aims to create and validate a score for survival and functional outcome of lung cancer patients with metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) after posterior decompressive surgery. Methods The entire cohort of 73 consecutive patients was randomly assigned to a test group (N = 37) and a validation group (N = 36). In the test group, we retrospectively analyzed 10 preoperative characteristics. Characteristics significantly associated with survival on multivariate analysis were included in the score. Patients in the validation group were used to confirm whether the score was reproducible. Postoperative functional outcome was analyzed both in the test and validation groups. Results On multivariate analysis, preoperative ambulatory status (P = 0.0017), visceral metastases (P = 0.0002), and time developing motor deficits (P = 0.0004) had significant impact on survival and were included in the scoring system. According to the prognostic scores, which ranged from 0 to 6 points, two risk groups were designed: 0-2 and 3-6 points and the median survival was 2.6 months (95 % CI, 1.0-3.8 months) and 10.7 months (95 % CI, 7.1-13.7 months), respectively (P \ 0.0001). In the validation group, the corresponding median survival was 2.7 months (95 % CI, 1.6-5.5 months) and 10.8 months (5.8-13.6 months), respectively (P \ 0.0001). In addition, the functional outcome was worse in patients with 0-2 points than in patients with 3-6 points both in the test (P = 0.0023) and validation groups (P = 0.0298). Conclusion Patients with scores of 0-2 points, who have short survival time (life expectancy less than 3 months) and poor functional outcome, appear best treated with radiotherapy or best supportive care alone. Surgery may be no longer in consideration in most of the patients in this group. Patients with score of 3-6 points should be surgical candidates, because survival prognosis (life expectancy more than 10 months) and functional outcome are favorable after surgery.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to develop a scoring system for prediction of survival prognosis after surgery in patients with symptomatic metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed nine preoperative characteristics for survival in a series of 64 patients with NSCLC who were operated with posterior decompression and spine stabilization for MSCC. Characteristics significantly associated with survival on multivariate analysis were included in the scoring system. The scoring point for each significant characteristic was derived from the hazard ratios on Cox proportional hazards model. The total score for each patient was obtained by adding the scoring points of all significant characteristics.ResultsEastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, number of involved vertebrae, visceral metastases, and time developing motor deficits had significant impact on survival on multivariate analysis and were included in the scoring system. According to the prognostic scores, which ranged from 4 to 10 points, three prognostic groups were designed: 4–5 points (n = 22), 6–7 points (n = 23), and 8–10 points (n = 19). The corresponding 6-month survival rates were 95, 47 and 11 %, respectively (P < 0.0001). In addition, the functional outcome was worse in the group of patients with 8–10 points compared with other two prognostic groups.ConclusionsThe new scoring system will enable physicians to identify patient with MSCC from NSCLC who may be a candidate for decompression and spine stabilization, more radical surgery, or supportive care alone. Patients with scores of 4–5, who have the most favorable survival prognosis and functional outcome, can be treated with more radical surgery in order to realize better local control of disease and prevent the occurrence of local disease. Patients with scores of 6–7 points should be surgical candidates, because survival prognosis and functional outcome are acceptable after surgery, while patients with scores of 8–10 points, who have the shortest survival time and poorest functional outcome after surgery, appear to be best treated with radiotherapy or best supportive care.

MSCC in cervical spine is less likely to improve or maintain motor function as compared with MSCC in thoracic and lumbar spine after surgery. However, its clinical outcomes appear similar to those of thoracic and lumbar spine metastasis in terms of postoperative survival, surgery-related complication, and pain outcome.