The role of surgery in the treatment of malignant tumours of the spine.

Malignant tumours of the spine present special problems in management because of the danger of spinal cord involvement. In these cases operation may have a double role, in diagnosis and in treatment. There is in the literature little mention of lateral approaches in the treatment of such lesions, so an account of our experience may prove of interest. Whatever influence radiotherapy and chemotherapy may exert on the course of the disease, operation is often of value in the relief of symptoms. Halnan and Roberts (1967) observed that energetic treatment ofpatients with spinal metastases is often considered to be meddlesome. Nevertheless if it is possible to offer relief for the more distressing symptoms by surgical means, this should not be neglected simply because the results will probably be short-term. A review of this small series reveals a few gratifying results which might produce a cautious optimism in planning the management of patients presenting with a solitary spinal lesion.