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Gojsevic M, Shariati S, Chan AW, Bonomo P, Zhang E, Kennedy SKF, Rajeswaran T, Rades D, Vassiliou V, Soliman H, Lee SF, Wong HCY, Rembielak A, Oldenburger E, Akkila S, Azevedo L, Chow E. Quality of life in patients with malignant spinal cord compression: a systematic review. Support Care Cancer 2023; 31:736. [PMID: 38055061 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-08186-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) is an oncological emergency that may result in a devastating combination of malignancy and disability. Existing quality of life (QoL) questionnaires commonly used in MSCC literature (EORTC QLQ-C30, BM-22, Brief Pain Inventory, and Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes) may not capture all the commonly reported symptoms and lack specificity to MSCC. The primary objective of this systematic review is to determine unmet patient needs and underreported QoL issues and compile a comprehensive list of QoL issues. The secondary objective of this review is to compile all existing QoL tools and questionnaires and determine whether any QoL issues are not addressed in the existing tools currently used in the literature. METHODS A literature search was conducted on Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases between 1946 and February 6, 2023, to compile all QoL issues and existing questionnaires used to assess QoL in patients with MSCC. All study designs were included given that they discussed QoL issues specific to patients with MSCC. RESULTS The results of this systematic review identified the most frequently discussed QoL issues in the literature studying MSCC. This included direct symptoms of MSCC such as back pain, paralysis, limb weakness/numbness, and urinary/bowel incontinence. Indirect symptoms coming from radiotherapy treatment such as dysphagia, painful swallowing, mouth pain, dry mouth, diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea/vomiting were also noted. Other symptoms resulting from corticosteroid treatment included difficulty sleeping, blurring of vision, weight gain, and mood disturbance. Patients also experienced psychosocial issues such as anxiety, depression, emotional distress, low self-esteem, concerns about dependence on others, concerns about getting home, and fear about their prognosis and future. CONCLUSION This review highlights the QoL issues specific to patients with MSCC and QoL tools capturing these issues. Relevance of QoL issues identified in this systematic review must be prospectively validated by patients and healthcare professionals with experience in treating MSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Gojsevic
- Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Saba Shariati
- Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Adrian Wai Chan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Pierluigi Bonomo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Elwyn Zhang
- Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Samantha K F Kennedy
- Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Thenugaa Rajeswaran
- Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dirk Rades
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Vassilios Vassiliou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Hany Soliman
- Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shing-Fung Lee
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Henry C Y Wong
- Department of Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Agata Rembielak
- The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Eva Oldenburger
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Shereen Akkila
- Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Edward Chow
- Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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