Prognostic factors and treatment of metastatic spinal cord compression

thirty-four patients with metastatic malignant epidural complete or partial spinal cord compression developed symptoms within 72 hours. They wee randomized into two groups. Group 1 received 800 cGy as an initial dose, then had a 10-day rest, and then received 200-cGy daily fractions for 3 days, then rested for 10 days, and then continued with 200-cGy daily fraction (total dose, radiobiologic equivalent of 4,000 cGy in 4 weeks). No difference in recovery rate was seen between the two groups. It was superior for patients previously treated wit conventional fractionation. The patients' motor function recovered faster than their sensorinerve function