Purpose
There were few available data regarding the prognosis after the surgical treatment for spinal metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) despite its great frequency. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors for patients who underwent the surgical treatment for spinal metastases from NSCLC.
Materials and Methods
Eighty-seven patients who underwent surgical treatment for spinal metastases from NSCLC were followed up semi-prospectively. There were 43 patients with metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) and 44 patients without MSCC. The prognosis analysis was performed according to 3-categorical variables: patients’ , oncologic, and treatments’ factors. Major complications and mortality rate were recorded. The impact of postoperative chemotherapy was evaluated separately.
Results
The overall survival time was median 6.8 months. Postoperative ECOG-PS (0-2 vs. 3, 4) was shown as a significant prognostic factors in both MSCC and non-MSCC groups with HR (hazards ratio) of 2.46 and 2.54, respectively. Major complications developed in 26 patients and 30-day mortality rate was 8.0%. The presence of major complications was also prognostic factor in both groups with HR of 2.55 and 4.47. Earlier surgery within 72 hours showed better prognosis in MSCC group with HR of 2.46. Patients who underwent postoperative chemotherapy survived longer significantly than those who couldn’t with median survival time of 12.0 vs 2.8 months.
Conclusions
Postoperative ECOG-PS and complications were significant prognostic factors in both groups and earlier surgery in MSCC group. The postoperative chemotherapy was another independent prognostic factor affecting the survival time

Although metastatic lung adenocarcinoma in the spinal cord is rare, it can be diagnosed by positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) scan with high sensitivity during the early disease stage. A clinical and radiographic review was performed to present a rare case of an intradural intramedullary adenocarcinoma metastasis in the spinal cord with a negative PET/CT scan. A 75-year-old man with a diagnosis of lung cancer without metastasis confirmed by a negative PET/CT scan with no spinal symtoms (conducted 6 weeks previously) presented with progressive paralysis of both lower extremities and accompanying bowel and bladder symptoms. He underwent radical lobectomy of left lung under diagnosis of lung cancer without distant metastasis 6 weeks ago. Emergent MRI was performed, and MRI revealed a large intradural intramedullary mass compressing the spinal cord and extending from T12 to L1 with anterior compression of the spinal cord. Surgical decompression and tumor resection from T12 to L1 by lumbar laminectomy and durotomy were performed under a microscope. And, a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma to the spinal cord was made based on histopathologic findings. Postoperatively, the patient’s neurologic status was not significantly improved. Despite a negative PET/CT scan finding with no neurologic symptoms or pain, surgeons should not exclude the possibility of a spinal metastatic lesion with lung cancer.