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En bloc resections can decrease local recurrence and mortality
Although associated with a high rate of complications, en bloc resection of malignant and primary spine tumors reduced patients’ risk of local recurrence and tumor-related mortality, according to study findings.
Researchers conducted a prospective cohort study of 103 consecutive patients with primary spinal tumors treated from August 1990 to March 2010, analyzing local recurrence (LR) and tumor-related mortality, reliability of preoperative surgical planning, and morbidity and mortality. The researchers also studied possible predictors of these events.
Within a mean follow-up period of 39 months after surgery, 22 cases of tumor recurrence were observed among the 103 patients. Through Cox regression multivariate analysis, the researchers found marginal and intralesional resections were independent predictors of LR and tumor-related mortality in particular.
The analysis also showed LR risk was higher when en bloc resection was performed in recurrent cases and in patients who were previously submitted to open biopsy compared with intact cases, according to the researchers.
En bloc resections successfully achieved adequate margins in 82.4% of cases. The researchers also found Weinstein-Biagini surgical staining was able to predict the margins in a higher percentage of cases.
The observed mortality rate related to surgical complications was 1.9%, and tumor-related mortality was 15.5%, according to the researchers.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.