Study design: A retrospective study of 46 patients with malignant epithelioid vascular tumors (MEVT) in the spine was performed.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to illustrate the clinic characteristics of MEVT in the spine and to discuss prognostic factors by survival analysis.
Summary of background data: MEVT in the spine is relatively uncommon, and there is little published information regarding this subject. Therefore, prognostic factors of this disease are still controversial.
Method: The univariate and multivariate analysis of various clinic characteristics were performed to identify the independent factor that affects prognosis for patients with MEVT in the spine who underwent surgical treatment in Changzheng Hospital Orthopedics Oncological Center (CHOOC) between 2005 and 2015. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method to identify potential prognostic factors. Factors with P values of 0.1 or less were subjected to multivariate analysis by Cox regression analysis. P values of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant.
Result: A total of 46 patients with MEVT in the spine were included in the study. The mean follow-up period was 42.6 months (range, 5-143 mo). Recurrence was detected in 22 patients after initial surgery in our center, whereas death in 18 patients. The univariate analysis suggested that age (<30 yr/≥30 yr), metastasis, preoperative Frankel score, postoperative Frankel score, malignant grade and resection mode were potential prognostic factors for DFS and OS. However, as they were submitted to multivariate analyses, only malignant grade and resection mode were independent prognostic factors.
Conclusion: Total en bloc spondylectomy can significantly improve DFS for MEVT in the spine and low-grade malignancy was favorable factor for DFS. Total spondylectomy and low-grade malignancy considerably improve OS for patients with MEVT in the spine.
Level of evidence: 4.