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Spinal Cord Compression

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Surgical Oncology

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Conclusions

Patients with SCC due to metastatic disease of the spine must be simultaneously evaluated with regard to neurologic impairment, stability of the spine, and tumor type. A multidisciplinary approach is required for these patients including an internist, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, and spinal surgeon. Compressive tumor extension can be treated effectively by radiotherapy for lesions that are radiosensitive, but radiotherapy cannot reverse a neurologic deficit if the SCC is a result of instability, vertebral collapse, or kyphosis. Spinal lesions with impending instability or current instability require spinal stabilization. The goals of surgery are to maintain or restore neurologic function and spinal stability, relieve pain, and maintain an independent quality of life. If the patient is medically able to undergo spinal surgery and has a life expectancy of 3 months or more, surgical intervention should be strongly considered.

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Authors
  1. Christopher J. Dewald
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Theodore J. Saclarides M.D. (Professor of Surgery, Head), Keith W. Millikan M.D. (Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of Undergraduate Surgical Education, Director) & Constantine V. Godellas M.D. (Associate Professor of Surgery, Academic Program Coordinator) (Professor of Surgery, Head),  (Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of Undergraduate Surgical Education, Director) &  (Associate Professor of Surgery, Academic Program Coordinator)

  2. Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery Department of General Surgery, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Theodore J. Saclarides M.D. (Professor of Surgery, Head) (Professor of Surgery, Head)

  3. Nutrition Consultation Service Department of General Surgery, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Keith W. Millikan M.D. (Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of Undergraduate Surgical Education, Director) (Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of Undergraduate Surgical Education, Director)

  4. Department of General Surgery, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Constantine V. Godellas M.D. (Associate Professor of Surgery, Academic Program Coordinator) (Associate Professor of Surgery, Academic Program Coordinator)

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Dewald, C.J. (2003). Spinal Cord Compression. In: Saclarides, T.J., Millikan, K.W., Godellas, C.V. (eds) Surgical Oncology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-21701-0_59

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-21701-0_59

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-95201-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-21701-7

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