MRI evaluation of percutaneous vertebroplasty for spinal metastases

Objective: The main purpose of this article is to determine whether MRI findings can provide reliable and objective evaluation of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in treating spinal metastases. Methods: PVP procedures were carried out in a total of 36 consecutive patients with 75 vertebral metastases. The clinical data and the imaging materials were retrospective analyzed. Visual analog scale (VAS) was determined before and after the treatment. According to MRI findings on sagittal scans, the patients were divided into three groups. Group A (complete remission group): the lesions completely disappeared for 12 weeks. Group B (partial remission group); the lesions developed ossification or the tumor's volume decreased, no new metastases appeared, and the condition maintained for 12 consecutive weeks. Group C (unresponsive group): the tumor's volume became larger. By using independent-samples t-test and paired-samples t-test analysis, the preoperative and postoperative VAS values were compared among thee groups. Results: Before PVP no significant differences in VAS existed among the three groups (P > 0.05). After PVP the differences in VAS among the three groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The extent of pain relief in group G was not very obvious, while the degree of pain relief in group A was more prominent than that in group B (P < 0.05), indicating that objective MRI findings were in accordance with the patient's subjective assessment. Conclusion: PVP is an effective treatment for spinal metastases. MRI results can provide reliable and objective evaluation of the clinical effects of percutaneous vertebroplasty for spinal metastases. (authors)