Radiofrequency ablation may improve the beneficial results of vertebroplasty for vertebral hemangiomas: analysis of 46 patients

Vertebral Hemangiomas: Yucesoy-Yilmaz Classification System with Corresponding Therapeutic Options

OBJECTIVE

Vertebral hemangiomas (VHs) are relatively common, symptomatic benign tumors of the spine with a reported estimated incidence up to 11%. They usually appear in the body of the vertebrae; however, they can extend into pedicles, laminae, and epidural space. They may cause pain, neurologic deficits. and fractures.

METHODS

In this retrospective, single-center study, we reviewed our cases with VH and we propose the novel classification system that evaluates these lesions per their views on magnetic resonance imaging and clinical findings under 4 main categories.

RESULTS

Our novel classification system proposes that grade I lesions occupy less than 50% of the vertebral body, whereas grade II lesions occupy more than 50% and grade III lesions occupy the whole corpus. Grade IV lesions show an epidural and pedicular extension. We propose that grade I lesions may not be worthwhile for follow-up, whereas asymptomatic grade II (a) lesions to be worthy for a biannual imaging and symptomatic thoracolumbar grade II (b) and thoracolumbar grade III lesions to be considered for percutaneous vertebroplasty. We imply that decompression, posterior spinal instrumentation, and open vertebroplasty may be performed for thoracolumbar grade IV lesions. We further consider cervical grade IIb, III, and grade IV lesions as operable because of the disadvantages of percutaneous vertebroplasty.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that our novel classification system may be useful for the determination of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the management of VH. Further multicentric trials on larger series are warranted to validate this system and popularize its utility in larger populations.

Vertebral hemangioma - the current radiation therapy perspective

Vertebral hemangiomas are benign tumors of the spine, most often detected incidentally and on other instances, when signs and symptoms of the disease arise. About 10% of the population are affected worldwide with a female to male ratio of 2:1. The majority of these cases are asymptomatic and no intervention is generally required. Less often, back pain and neurological deficit may occur. Such hemangiomas are termed aggressive by the Enneking staging and warrant treatment. In this review, staging and diagnostics are discussed in detail followed by treatment options. Treatment options entail Surgical intervention, Percutaneous ethanol injection, radiofrequency ablation and Radiation Therapy. There are no set guidelines on preference or order of the treatment options. Further, in this review, studies favouring Radiation therapy regimes and their outcomes are elaborated.

Primary Benign Tumors of the Spinal Canal

Benign tumors that grow in the spinal canal are heterogeneous neoplasms with low incidence; from these, meningiomas and nerve sheath tumors (neurofibromas and schwannomas) account for 60%-70% of all primary spinal tumors. Benign spinal canal tumors provoke nonspecific clinical manifestations, mostly related to the affected level of the spinal cord. These tumors present a challenge for the patient and healthcare professionals, for they are often difficult to diagnose and the high frequency of posttreatment complications. In this review, we describe the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis, histopathology, molecular biology, and treatment of extramedullary benign meningiomas, osteoid osteomas, osteoblastomas, aneurysmal bone cysts, osteochondromas, neurofibromas, giant cell tumors of the bone, eosinophilic granulomas, hemangiomas, lipomas, and schwannomas located in the spine, as well as possible future targets that could lead to an improvement in their management.