THE IMPACT ON TREATMENT PLANNING OF MRI OF THE SPINE IN PATIENTS SUSPECTED OF VERTEBRAL METASTASIS - AN EFFICACY STUDY

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of spinal MR I in suspected spinal metastasis. The effect of spinal MRT on treatmen t planning choices (radiation, chemotherapy, steroids, or surgery) in 130 patients with suspected spinal metastatic involvement was evaluate d In a retrospective group of 100 patients, 47 (47%) had therapy chang es associated with MR findings. Forty out of 78 (51%) of patients pres enting with symptoms (back pain, weakness, paresthesia, or sphincter d ysfunction) had MR associated therapy choices. Seven out of 22 (32%) o f patients without spinal symptoms had therapy changes. Twelve out of 30 (40%) of patients evaluated prospectively had therapy choices direc ted by MR findings. Overall, 59 out of 130 (45%) of patients had thera py choices associated with findings in spinal MRT. MRI results influen ced the addition or modification of radiation therapy treatment in 33% of the patients suspected of metastatic disease to the spine. Copyrig ht (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.