We report the outcome of patients with metastatic spine tumors showing high-grade malignancy using the Tokuhashi scoring system. A retrospectively compared 21 patients with such tumors (group H) and 29 patients with spinal metastases showing low-grade malignancy (group L). There were 18 men and 3 women in group H, and 16 men and 13 women in group L, and the average patient ages were 55 years and 65 years, respectively. All of the patients were scored with the Tokuhashi scoring system and evaluated for neurological symptoms with the ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS).
Results : The rates of improvement in the AIS score and gait ability were almost the same in both groups. Among patients who we were able to follow postoperatively for 6 months or more, 7 in group H and 4 in group L died within 6 months. The mean survival period was 12 months in group H and 17 months in group L.
Conclusions : The outcome after treatment in group H was almost the same as that in group L. This may have been due to progress in the treatment of malignancy. Further studies to determine the indications for surgery in such patients are warranted.