Quality of life following surgery for vertebral metastases from breast cancer

Background and Objectives: The quality of life of patients with vertebral m etastases from breast cancer treated with surgery was evaluated. Methods: Seven such patients underwent surgery for vertebral metastases fol lowing chemoendocrine treatment. They presented with pain and some with neu rological compromise. Results: Following posterior stabilization with a segmental instrument, pai n was alleviated in all seven women, two showed improvements in neurologica l compromise, and performance status was improved in five. In no patient wa s there neurological deterioration secondary to surgical intervention. They were out of bed on the 4th postoperative day and discharged on the 14th da y on average. Conclusions: The quality of life was improved for these surgically treated patients. We recommend surgical stabilization for selected patients with a vertebral metastasis from breast cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 1999;70:60-63. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.