Frequency of and risk factors associated with local recurrence after spinal stereotactic body radiation therapy without surgery

This study aimed to identify factors associated with local recurrence after spinal stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), focusing on patient movement during treatment and tumor characteristics.

A total of 48 patients who underwent spinal SBRT alone without surgery from August 2017 to October 2022 were evaluated. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with local recurrence, including patient movement and tumor characteristics such as soft tissue involvement and tumor volume. Patient movement during treatment was measured using cone beam computed tomography before and after irradiation.

Among the included cases, 68.7% and 42.6% had soft tissue involvement and movement exceeding 1 mm, respectively. The median follow-up duration for local recurrence was 11.6 (range: 0.7–44.9) months, whereas the median duration to local recurrence was 6.3 months. Within 12 months, 29.3% of the patients experienced local recurrence, among whom 43.9% moved ≥ 1 mm during treatment, whereas 15.8% did not move. Univariable analysis found that both soft tissue involvement (OR = 10.3, 1.21–87.9; p = 0.033) and patient movement ≥ 1 mm (OR = 5.75, 1.45–22.8; p = 0.013) were associated with local recurrence. Multivariable analysis identified patient movement as an independent prognostic factor for local recurrence (OR = 5.15, 1.06–25.0; p = 0.042).

Our results suggest that patient movement during spinal SBRT was associated with local recurrence, emphasizing the need for better immobilization techniques and shorter delivery times to improve tumor control.