The Efficacy and Complications of Preoperative Embolization of Metastatic Spinal Tumors: Risk of Paralysis after Embolization

Assessment of Hidden Blood Loss in Spinal Metastasis Surgery: A Comprehensive Approach with MRI-Based Radiomics Models

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing surgery for spinal metastasis are predisposed to hidden blood loss (HBL), which is associated with poor surgical outcomes but unpredictable.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the role of MRI-based radiomics models for assess the risk of HBL in patients undergoing spinal metastasis surgery.

STUDY TYPE

Retrospective.

SUBJECTS

202 patients (42.6% female) operated on for spinal metastasis with a mean age of 58 ± 11 years were divided into a training (n = 162) and a validation cohort (n = 40).

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE

1.5T or 3.0T scanners. Sagittal T1-weighted and fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging sequences.

ASSESSMENT

HBL was calculated using the Gross formula. Patients were classified as low and high HBL group, with 1000 mL as the threshold. Radiomics models were constructed with radiomics features. The radiomics score (Radscore) was obtained from the optimal radiomics model. Clinical variables were accessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Independent risk variables were used to build a clinical model. Clinical variables combined with Radscore were used to establish a combined model.

STATISTICAL TESTS

Predictive performance was evaluated using area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and F1 score. Calibration curves and decision curves analyses were produced to evaluate the accuracy and clinical utility.

RESULTS

Among the radiomics models, the fusion (T1WI + FS-T2WI) model demonstrated the highest predictive efficacy (AUC: 0.744, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.576-0.914). The Radscore model (AUC: 0.809, 95% CI: 0.664-0.954) performs slightly better than the clinical model (AUC: 0.721, 95% CI: 0.524-0.918; P = 0.418) and the combined model (AUC: 0.752, 95% CI: 0.593-0.911; P = 0.178).

DATA CONCLUSION

A radiomics model may serve as a promising assessment tool for the risk of HBL in patients undergoing spinal metastasis surgery, and guide perioperative planning to improve surgical outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Comparison of intraoperative blood loss and perioperative complications between preoperative embolization and nonembolization combined with spinal tumor surgeries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate intraoperative blood loss (IBL) and perioperative complications between preoperative embolization (PE) and nonembolization (NE) combined with spinal tumor surgeries as well as to determine the subgroup of spinal tumor surgeries suitable for PE.

METHODS

A systematic search in PubMed and EMBASE and an additional search by reference lists of the retrieved studies were undertaken by two reviewers. The mean IBL and perioperative complication rate were employed as the effect size in the general quantitative synthesis through direct calculation. Meta-analysis was performed using standardized mean difference (SMD) and weighted mean difference (WMD) of IBL and the odds ratio (OR) of complications. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic.

RESULTS

The reviewers selected 17 published studies for the general quantitative synthesis and meta-analyses. The mean IBL of spinal tumor surgeries was 1786.3 mL in the NE group and 1716.4 mL in the PE group. The mean IBL between the two groups was similar. The pooled WMD and SMD of IBL in spinal tumor surgeries was 324.15 mL (95% CI 89.50-1640.9, p = 0.007) and 0.398 (95% CI 0.114-0.682, p = 0.006), respectively. The reduction of the PE group compared with the NE group for the rates of major complications and major hemorrhagic complications were 7.80% and 5.71%, respectively. The risk of PE-related complications in the PE group was only 1.53% more than in the PE group. The pooled OR of major complications in spinal tumor surgeries was 1.426 (95% CI 0.760-2.674; p = 0.269).

CONCLUSIONS

PE may be suitable for spinal tumor surgeries and some subgroups. From the perspective of complications, PE may also be a feasible option for spinal tumor surgeries.

Quality of life in patients with malignant spinal cord compression: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) is an oncological emergency that may result in a devastating combination of malignancy and disability. Existing quality of life (QoL) questionnaires commonly used in MSCC literature (EORTC QLQ-C30, BM-22, Brief Pain Inventory, and Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes) may not capture all the commonly reported symptoms and lack specificity to MSCC. The primary objective of this systematic review is to determine unmet patient needs and underreported QoL issues and compile a comprehensive list of QoL issues. The secondary objective of this review is to compile all existing QoL tools and questionnaires and determine whether any QoL issues are not addressed in the existing tools currently used in the literature.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted on Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases between 1946 and February 6, 2023, to compile all QoL issues and existing questionnaires used to assess QoL in patients with MSCC. All study designs were included given that they discussed QoL issues specific to patients with MSCC.

RESULTS

The results of this systematic review identified the most frequently discussed QoL issues in the literature studying MSCC. This included direct symptoms of MSCC such as back pain, paralysis, limb weakness/numbness, and urinary/bowel incontinence. Indirect symptoms coming from radiotherapy treatment such as dysphagia, painful swallowing, mouth pain, dry mouth, diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea/vomiting were also noted. Other symptoms resulting from corticosteroid treatment included difficulty sleeping, blurring of vision, weight gain, and mood disturbance. Patients also experienced psychosocial issues such as anxiety, depression, emotional distress, low self-esteem, concerns about dependence on others, concerns about getting home, and fear about their prognosis and future.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights the QoL issues specific to patients with MSCC and QoL tools capturing these issues. Relevance of QoL issues identified in this systematic review must be prospectively validated by patients and healthcare professionals with experience in treating MSCC.