Van der Linden score

Metastatic spine tumor prognosis

Scoring system

Karnofsky Performance Score

  • 80 - 100 (2 points)
  • 50-70 (1 point)
  • 20-40 (0 points)
  • Primary tumor

  • Breast (3 points)
  • Prostate (2 points)
  • Lung (1 point)
  • Other (0 points)
  • Visceral metastases

  • No (1 point)
  • Yes (0 points)
  • Interpretation

    (OS = overall survival in months; 95% CI between brackets)

    Group A: 0 - 3 points

  • Mean OS: 4.8 (3.8 - 5.7)
  • Median OS: 3.0
  • Group B: 4 - 5 points

  • Mean OS: 13.1 (11.3 - 14.8)
  • Median OS: 9.0
  • Group C: 6 points

  • Mean OS: 18.3 (15.2 - 21.4)
  • Median OS: 18.7
  • Reference

    van der Linden YM, Dijkstra SPDS, Vonk EJA, Marijnen CAM, Leer JWH, Dutch Bone Metastasis Study Group. Prediction of survival in patients with metastases in the spinal column: results based on a randomized trial of radiotherapy. Cancer. 2005 Jan. 15;103(2):320-328.