SPINAL EPIDURAL METASTASES

Epidural metastases are more common in mates at the 6. decade and cause medullary compression usually from the anterior direction at the thoracal level. Neurological detoriation is rapid and the patients usually admit with major deficits. The key to the treatment is radioteraphy and chemotherapy. Surgery is indicated when immediate decompression in needed is the patient with rapidly detoriating nueological slate. Furthermore, radioresistant tumors or the patient with impairing neurological state under radiotherapy must also be surgically decompressed. Surgery is of no use in the rapidly detoriated patients 24 hours after the onset of complete neurological deficit.