Percutaneous vertebroplasty combined with zoledronic acid for the treatment of painful osteolytic spinal metastases in patients with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To assess retrospectively the efficacy and safety of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) combined with zoledronic acid (ZA) for the treatment of painful osteolytic spinal metastases from breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

PVP was performed in 43 patients with breast cancer and painful osteolytic spinal metastases; 126 vertebrae were treated. The patients subsequently received 4 mg ZA via a 15-minute intravenous infusion every 4 weeks for 12 months. Pain and quality of life (QoL) were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) and Karnofsky performance scale (KPS), respectively, 24 hours before PVP and 24 hours, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after PVP. Skeletal-related events (SREs) were assessed for 12 months following the intervention.

RESULTS

The mean VAS scores decreased significantly from 7.6 ± 1.9 at 24 hours before PVP to 3.6 ± 1.4 at 24 hours, 2.0 ± 1.5 at 1 month, 2.8 ± 1.6 at 3 months, 3.1 ± 0.8 at 6 months, and 2.5 ± 0.9 at 12 months after the intervention (P < .05). KPS scores increased significantly after the combination treatment (P < .05). Compared with previous studies without PVP or ZA treatment, this patient group had a lower incidence of SREs. No major complications were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

PVP combined with ZA was shown to be a highly effective and safe combination therapy to relieve pain and improve QoL in patients with osteolytic spinal metastases from breast cancer. The combination therapy also prevented the occurrence of SREs.