Evaluation and Modification of the Tomita Score in 217 Patients with Vertebral Metastases

Abstract

The Tomita prognosis score consists of thefollowing 3 parameters: growth behavior, evidence ofvisceral metastases, and/or evidence of bony metastases.Methods: 217 consecutive patients, surgicallytreated for vertebral metastases of different entities,were studied retrospectively. The score according toTomita was determined. Results: In the study group, theTomita score showed significant results for the estimationof life expectancy of the different prognostic groups(p < 0.0001), but the analysis showed a low reliability, i.e.correlation between predicted prognosis and real survival.A modified division of the patients based on thetotal sum of points allowed a significant separation (p <0.0001) of patients into 2 prognostic groups with a realsurvival of more or less than 12 months. Conclusion: Inour study, the original Tomita score was not reliable topredict the life expectancy of cancer patients with spinalmetastases. Our modification allows a significant differentiationof patients with spinal metastases with a prognosisof more or less than 12 months.