Advanced radiation therapy options for primary and metastatic spine tumors

Abstract

Primary spinal cord and metastatic spine tumors represent a heterogenous group of malignancies whose management is complex given the variety of tumor histologies, tumor-related morbidity, and potential complications of treatment. The critical role of radiation therapy in the management of primary spinal cord and metastatic spine tumors has been influenced by advances in neurosurgical techniques, neuroimaging, integrative diagnoses, and most impactfully through advances in radiotherapy technology specifically stereotactic radiotherapy and proton therapy. This article reviews contemporary literature supporting the use of advanced radiotherapy in the management of primary spinal cord and metastatic spine tumors.