info about spinal mets

Treatment of Vertebral Metastasis
By Charles H. Weaver, MD
July 06, 2007
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved the
Cavity Spinewand for treatment of cancer that has spread to the spine,
referred to as metastasis to the spine or spinal metastasis.

A large proportion of patients diagnosed with solid tumors (cancer that did not
originate from blood or immune cells) ultimately develop spinal metastases.
Spinal metastasis is the cause of the majority of compression fractures of the
spine, and is associated with extreme pain and immobility among patients who
suffer from them. At times, the immobility caused by spinal metastases results
in patients not being able to receive their other treatment, such as radiation
or chemotherapy.

Cavity Spinewand utilizes radiofrequency to kill the cancer cells in the spine. A
surgeon places a small cannula at the site of the cancer which is guided
through radiography. The Cavity Spinewand is placed through the cannula and
delivers the radiofrequency to the cancer cells. Then, a type of cement
mixture is delivered into the cavity site to fill the empty space which was once
occupied by the cancer and provide stability to the spine.

Treatment with the Cavity Spinewand minimizes damage to surrounding
healthy tissue as the treatment is placed precisely at the site of cancer.
Furthermore, treatment with the Cavity Spinewand does not affect
subsequent therapy with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Patients treated with the Cavity Spinewand report significant pain relief,
sometimes including complete pain relief. Patients have also reported improved
quality of life and mobility, sometimes enabling them to comply with scheduled
chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Patients with spinal metastases may wish to speak with their physician
regarding their individual risks and benefits of treatment with Cavity
Spinewand.

Reference: Arthrocare. ArthroCare Receives FDA Clearance to Treat Malignant
Lesions in the Spine. Available at: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?
c=100786&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1000387&highlight=. A