Primary Sarcomas of the Spine

Abstract

Study Design: A systematic review of the literature and pooled data analysis of treatment outcomes of primary sarcomas of the spine. Objective: To examine the current literature and treatment options for primary sarcomas of the spine. Summary of Background Data: A paucity of literature exists on treatment outcomes of primary sarcomas of the spine. Materials and Methods: Two authors searched PubMed to identify articles for review, and a pooled data analysis was performed to determine overall survival for each type of surgical resection on spine sarcomas. Results: In total, 1776 articles were identified, and 11 met our inclusion criteria for review. In chondrosarcoma, overall survival was significantly higher with en bloc excision when compared with piecemeal resection (HR for piecemeal resection: 4.11; 95% CI: 2.08–8.15). Subgroup analysis showed that the addition of radiation therapy after piecemeal excision increased overall survival to 60 months from 48 months with piecemeal excision alone. In osteosarcoma, there was no significant difference in overall survival between en bloc and piecemeal resection (HR for piecemeal resection: 1.76; 95% CI: 0.776–3.99). In Ewing’s sarcoma, overall survival was significantly higher when a successful en bloc resection was achieved and coupled with chemotherapy and radiation therapy for local control (HR for piecemeal resection: 7.96; 95% CI: 2.12–20.1). Interestingly, when a successful en bloc resection could not be achieved, chemotherapy and radiation therapy alone had significantly higher survival than piecemeal resection (HR for piecemeal resection: 2.63; 95% CI: 1.01–6.84). A significantly higher number of local recurrences were associated with the piecemeal resection group in all types of spine sarcomas. Conclusion: This review and pooled data seem to favor en bloc excision for local control as the treatment of choice in primary sarcomas of the spine.