Surgical approaches to metastatic spine disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of many types of cancers have prolonged and improved the quality of life for cancer patients. With increased survival, metastatic spinal lesions are becoming much more of a functional and clinical problem.

RECENT FINDINGS: Percutaneous vertebral augmentation techniques and image-guided focused beam radiotherapy have recently evolved and show promising results in the treatment of metastatic spinal lesion.

SUMMARY: Vertebral augmentation and radiosurgery are minimally invasive options for the treatment of metastatic lesions of the spine. When combined, these treatment modalities offer predictable pain control and limit deformity progression.