Objective: To assess the efficacy of percutaneous cementoplasty for painful bone metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods: Cementoplasty was performed for 22 metastatic bone tumors in 13 patients. All patients had intractable pain and were diagnosed as metastatic bone tumor from HCC. The ostyneedle was inserted in the center of the site of bone metastasis under CT guidance. VAS score, Tokuhashi score and Frankel score were used for assessment of the efficacy of cementoplasty. We also assessed the response to treatment, adverse events and prognosis.
Results: Only the VAS score, but not Tokuhashi and Frankel scores, improved after cementoplasty. Cementoplasty for painful bone metastasis provided relief of severe pain but did not improve prognosis, neurological function or survival. Eleven of 13 (85%) patients showed CR or PR and the mean pain-free period was 5 months, including a 10-month pain-free period in one case. No major complications were encountered.
Conclusions: Percutaneous cementoplasty can provide pain relief and improvement of quality of life, though without survival benefits, for HCC patients with painful bone metastasis.
(c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel