OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinical presentation of metastases in the scapula and/or humerus resulting from renal cell carcinoma and the courses of treatment available. PATIENTS: A series of 35 patients with humeral or scapular metastases from renal cell carcinoma, treated at The Norwegian Radium Hospital (NRH) during an 11-year period, is reviewed. Two case reports are examined in detail. RESULTS: The median survival was 12 months (range 1-88) from the time of diagnosis of metastasis. Three patients lived for more than 50 months. CONCLUSION: Owing to the relatively long survival time, especially in patients with limited tumour burden elsewhere and who are in a good general state of health, long-lasting palliative treatment of the humeral or scapular metastases is aimed for. Renal cell carcinoma tends to be resistant to radiotherapy, and early treatment, combining orthopaedic surgery and high-dose radiotherapy, is advocated.
OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinical presentation of metastases in the scapula and/or humerus resulting from renal cell carcinoma and the courses of treatment available. PATIENTS: A series of 35 patients with humeral or scapular metastases from renal cell carcinoma, treated at The Norwegian Radium Hospital (NRH) during an 11-year period, is reviewed. Two case reports are examined in detail. RESULTS: The median survival was 12 months (range 1-88) from the time of diagnosis of metastasis. Three patients lived for more than 50 months. CONCLUSION: Owing to the relatively long survival time, especially in patients with limited tumour burden elsewhere and who are in a good general state of health, long-lasting palliative treatment of the humeral or scapular metastases is aimed for. Renal cell carcinoma tends to be resistant to radiotherapy, and early treatment, combining orthopaedic surgery and high-dose radiotherapy, is advocated.
Authors: Rory J Petteys; Steven M Spitz; Jay Rhee; C Rory Goodwin; Patricia L Zadnik; Rachel Sarabia-Estrada; Mari L Groves; Ali Bydon; Timothy F Witham; Jean-Paul Wolinsky; Ziya L Gokaslan; Daniel M Sciubba Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2015-03-13 Impact factor: 3.134