Factors affecting prognosis and surveillance in metastatic bone tumors

Factors affecting prognosis and surveillance in metastatic bone tumors INTRODUCTION AND AIM: The aim of study is evaluating all factors affecting prognosis and survival in metastatic bone tumors, with particular focusing whether knowing the primary origin of the metastatic tumor at time of presentation has an impact on prognosis and survival. METHODS: Patients present at our center between 2021 and 2025 were diagnosed with metastatic bone tumors, were followed up in our clinic were retrospectively reviewed. Total of 42 patients diagnosed with metastatic bone tumors were identified. Due to metastases involving 63 bones among these patients, 63 cases were included in the study. Inclusion criteria were: (1) a confirmed diagnosis of metastatic bone tumor through pathology, (2) a minimum follow-up period of 3 months, and (3) no recurrence at initial presentation. Exclusion criteria were: (1) follow-up period shorter than 3 months, and (2) diagnosis of primary bone tumor after pathological evaluation. RESULTS: The entire study population was statistically analyzed for factors that could affect survival. Additionally, cases with known and unknown primary tumors at presentation were separately evaluated in terms of prognosis and survival. Data obtained from all cases were found to be consistent with the literature. When the cases were grouped based on whether the primary carcinoma was known or unknown at the time of diagnosis, no statistically significant difference in survival or prognosis was observed. In this study, functional outcomes were assessed using the MSTS scoring system, and a statistically significant relationship was found between the MSTS score and survival duration. CONCLUSION: According to our study, the absence of a known primary carcinoma at the time of presentation in patients with metastatic bone tumors cannot be considered a negative prognostic factor for prognosis and survival. Other factors found to affect prognosis and survival in the study were consistent with literature. Keywords: Bone, metastasis, MSTS, prognosis, tumor