Metastatic Epidural Tumor of the Spine

The attitude of physicians toward metastatic epidural tumor of the spine has changed somewhat during the past two decades from one of pessimism and therapeutic nihilism⁸,¹⁶to one which is more therapeutically aggressive.* Our experience, however, reveals that many physicians are still unaware of the benefits to be derived from the surgical therapy of this disease and the need for prompt action in such cases with neurological involvement. In an attempt to evaluate this subject further and obtain additional information useful in the selection and treatment of these patients, 45 cases of metastatic epidural tumor of the spine with neurological involvement were reviewed. These cases were analyzed with respect to the duration of symptoms, degree of paresis, tumor level, tumor type, postoperative irradiation, and their relation to the postoperative return of function. All of the patients in this series were seen at the Long Beach Veterans Administration Hospital during