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Association of surgical resection and survival in patients with malignant primary osseous spinal neoplasms from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database

European Spine Journal volume 22, pages 1375–1382 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

Malignant osseous spinal neoplasms are aggressive tumors associated with poor outcomes despite aggressive multidisciplinary measures. While surgical resection has been shown to improve short-term local disease control, it remains debated whether surgical resection is associated with improved overall survival in patients with malignant primary osseous spinal neoplasms. The aim of this manuscript is to review survival data from a US cancer registry spanning 30 years to determine if surgical resection was independently associated with overall survival.

Methods

The SEER registry (1973–2003) was queried to identify cases of histologically confirmed primary spinal chordoma, chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, or Ewing’s sarcoma of the mobile spine and pelvis. Patients with systemic metastasis were excluded. Age, gender, race, tumor location, and primary treatments were identified. Extent of local tumor invasion was classified as confined within periosteum versus extension beyond periosteum to surrounding tissues. The association of surgical resection with overall survival was assessed via Cox analysis adjusting for age, radiotherapy, and tumor invasiveness.

Results

827 patients were identified with non-metastatic primary osseous spinal neoplasms (215 chordoma, 282 chondrosarcoma, 158 osteosarcoma, 172 Ewing’s sarcoma). Overall, median survival was histology specific (chordoma, 96 months; Ewing’s sarcoma, 90 months; chondrosarcoma, 88 months; osteosarcoma, 18 months). Adjusting for age, radiation therapy, and extent of local tumor invasion in patients with isolated (non-metastatic) spine tumors, surgical resection was independently associated with significantly improved survival for chordoma [hazard ratio (95 % confidence interval; 0.617 (0.25–0.98)], chondrosarcoma [HR (95 %CI); 0.153 (0.07–0.36)], osteosarcoma [HR (95 %CI); 0.382 (0.21–0.69)], and Ewing’s sarcoma [HR (95 %CI); 0.494 (0.26–0.96)].

Conclusion

In our analysis of a 30-year US population-based cancer registry (SEER), patients undergoing surgical resection of primary spinal chordoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, or osteosarcoma demonstrated prolonged overall survival independent of patient age, extent of local invasion, or location. Surgical resection may play a role in prolonging survival in the multi-modality treatment of patients with these malignant primary osseous spinal neoplasms.

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Conflict of interest

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA

    Debraj Mukherjee

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Kaisorn L. Chaichana & Ziya L. Gokaslan

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, 1500 21st Ave South, Suite 1506, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA

    Scott L. Parker & Matthew J. McGirt

Authors
  1. Debraj Mukherjee
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  2. Kaisorn L. Chaichana
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  4. Ziya L. Gokaslan
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Correspondence to Debraj Mukherjee.

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Mukherjee, D., Chaichana, K.L., Parker, S.L. et al. Association of surgical resection and survival in patients with malignant primary osseous spinal neoplasms from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Eur Spine J 22, 1375–1382 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2621-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2621-4

Keywords

  • Biopsy
  • Chondrosarcoma
  • Chordomas
  • Ewing’s sarcoma
  • Osteosarcoma
  • Survival
  • Surgery