The spine is one of the most common sites for metastasis. Effective management of spinal metastasis requires a logical and systematic approach.
Dr. Laurence D. Rhines, MD, is Professor of Neurosurgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
In his excellent and lucid talk given at the Seattle Science Foundation, Dr. Rhines puts forth four questions to ask ourselves when dealing with spinal metastasis:
- Is the patient medically fit to undergo a procedure?
- What is the clinical presentation?
- What is the pathology (histology)?
- Do you have a feasible surgical plan?