Abstract

HERNANDEZ OCHOA, Jaqueline; FUENTES VEGA, Zaihlin  and  CRUZ PORTELLES, Alain. Tumor Spinal Cord Compression Syndrome Behavior in Patients of Vladimir Ilich Lenin Hospital. CCM [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.3, pp. 257-265. ISSN 1560-4381.

Introduction: spinal cord compression syndrome is an oncologic emergency and neurological disease of poor prognosis, the diagnosis and early treatment are key factors to prevent severe and irreversible neurological damage. Objective: to characterize the behavior of tumor spinal cord compression syndrome in oncologic emergencies. Method: a descriptive study of series of cases was performed. The universe comprised 328 patients treated at Radiation Therapy Consultation of Oncology Center, located at Vladimir Ilich Lenin Hospital. The sample was comprised 41 patients with tumor spinal cord compression syndrome. Some variables were analyzed such as: age, sex, location of primary tumor, neurological symptom, predominant spinal affected segment and response to radiation treatment. Results: males were the most affected ones (56.1%). The prevalent tumor sites were the lung in men (47.8%) and breast cancer in women (44.4%). 82.9% of patients were between 40 and 79 years, and spinal pain was the most frequent symptom (70.73%). The thoracic segment of the spine was the most affected one (63.4%) and there was a good response to radiotherapy in 73.1% of patients. Conclusions: the predominant tumor compression syndrome in men older than 40 years with the pain as the main symptom and tumors causes such as lung, prostate and breast. Radiotherapy treatment was effective in most of patients.

Keywords : spinal cord compression; radiotherapy; osseous pain.

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