Application status of tumor ablation technique in patients with spinal metastases

English Keywords:Ablation technique  Spinal metastases  Effectiveness  Safety  Systematic review

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objectives: To systematically evaluate the clinical evidence of the effectiveness and safety of tumor ablation technique in treating spinal metastasis. Methods: According to the PRISMA statement, a comprehensive retrieval of the literatures related to tumor ablation for spinal metastases published between January 2013 and April 2023 in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane database was conducted. Two reviewers independently screened eligible articles in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and extracted data. The primary outcomes were pain relief, improvement in quality of life, local tumor control rate, and complications after ablation of spinal metastases. Results: A total of 40 articles involving 1943 patients were included, and among which 25 articles assessed the radiofrequency ablation, 9 evaluated microwave ablation and 6 was about cryoablation, respectively. The pattern of treatments was mainly combination of ablation and vertebral augmentation. After the combination treatment of patients with spinal metastases in 1 week and 1, 3, 6 months, the visual analogue scale(VAS) pain score and Oswestry disability index(ODI) were significantly decreased compared with baseline status. A good local tumor control and lower incidence of complications were also shown during follow-up period. Conclusions: Tumor ablation technique for treating spinal metastases is safe and effective, which is more effective when combining with bone cement vertebral augmentation, and is expected to become the standard treatment of spinal metastases.