ABSTRACT

Epidemiology • Spinal metastases are found in 30 % of patients dying of cancer. • The thoracic spine is the commonest site.

Pathology • The common primaries include breast, bronchus, kidney, thy­

roid, prostate and haematological malignancies. • Modes of spread include haematogenous spread (the com­

monest), direct extension, perineural and lymphatic spread. • Metastases may cause bony destruction, cord compression and

deformity, spinal oedema, ischaemia and/or infarction. • The metastases may be extradural (the commonest type),

intradural/extramedullary or intradural/intramedullary.