Number of extraspinal organs with metastases: a prognostic factor of survival in patients with metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

In patients irradiated for MSCC from NSCLC, the number of extraspinal organs involved by metastases was investigated for associations with survival.The data of 131 patients irradiated with 10×3 Gy in two weeks for MSCC were evaluated. The number of involved extraspinal organs plus eight other factors were retrospectively analyzed.The 6-month survival rates were 72%, 57%, 20%, and 11% for the involvement of 0, 1, 2, and ≥3 extraspinal organs, respectively (p<0.001). On multivariate analysis, the number of involved extraspinal organs remained significant (risk ratio 1.60; 95% CI 1.28-2.00; p<0.001). Gender (p=0.028), ECOG performance score (p=0.001), histology (p=0.014), ambulatory status (p=0.002), and time to developing motor deficits (p=0.041) were also independent prognostic factors for survival.The number of extraspinal organs with metastases is an independent prognostic factor for the survival of NSCLC patients presenting with MSCC and should be considered in future studies.