Predictive Factors and a Survival Score for Patients Irradiated for Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression from Carcinoma of the Salivary Glands

AIM: To our knowledge, this is the first study focusing on metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) from carcinoma of the salivary glands.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine patients receiving radiation alone were evaluated for improvement of motor deficits, post-radiation gait function and survival.

RESULTS: Of nine characteristics (radiation program, age, sex, additional metastases to bone or to other organs, dynamic of motor deficits, pre-radiation gait function, number of vertebrae affected by MSCC, general condition), strong trends were found for associations between improved motor deficits and their dynamic (p=0.05), post-radiation gait function and pre-treatment ambulatory status (p=0.08) and between survival and additional metastases to other organs (p=0.07), dynamic of motor deficits (p=0.07) and general condition (p=0.07). In addition, a survival score was created. Patients with 2-3 points had a significantly better 6-month survival than those with 0-1 points (100% vs. 0%, p=0.027).

CONCLUSION: Characteristics predicting outcomes identified in this study and the new survival score can guide physicians when making treatment decisions.