To determine radiographic failure rates, defined as progression on imaging at the treated segment, after a salvage third course of spine stereotactic radiosurgery (sSRS) in patients with spinal metastases who experienced progression after prior sSRS treatments.
Key Findings:
Median time interval to sSRS re-irradiation was 12.1 months, indicating a potential window for treatment.
One patient received a fourth course of sSRS after the third course, suggesting ongoing treatment options.
Radiographic failure rates and toxicity outcomes were systematically assessed, providing a comprehensive overview of treatment effects.
Interpretation:
Salvage third sSRS appears to be a feasible option for patients with spinal metastases experiencing progression after previous sSRS, with manageable toxicity, including specific adverse effects that were monitored.
Limitations:
Small sample size limits generalizability, potentially affecting the applicability of results to broader populations.
Retrospective design may introduce bias, which could influence the reliability of the findings.
Conclusion:
Further prospective studies are needed to validate findings and assess long-term outcomes of multiple sSRS courses, particularly focusing on patient quality of life and long-term toxicity.
