[Clinical aspects of the problem of vertebral metastases, possibilities of modern treatment methods, considering especially radiofrequency ablation].

From 100,000 people in Germany, statistically calculated, 441 males and 350 females suffer from a cancer disease. In about 50 to 80 % of patients with breast or prostate carcinoma bone metastases are registered, which is connected, among others, with a high risk for pathological fractures and other debilitating diseases. The diagnosis of bone metastases is done by conventional X-ray equipment, CT, MRI, and especially with the help of skeletal scintigraphy. For therapy bisphosphonates, anti-hormones and chemotherapeutic agents as drugs are used. Furthermore, radiotherapy, radionuclides, surgery and ablative procedures are applied. A more recent technical method is the STAR™ Tumour Ablation System (RFA), by which minimally invasively an electrode is introduced into the vertebral bodies. The system ensures precise control and thus a targeted ablation of the metastases. Several publications and reports describing a combined application demonstrate the synergistic effectiveness of RFA and radiofrequency kyphoplasty.