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SPINE ONCOLOGY

Here is a list of my twenty scholarly works within the realm of Spine Oncology.  This includes 15 publications in peer-reviewed journals and four book chapters.   

 

FIRST AUTHOR:

Fahim DK, Johnson KK, Whitehead WE, Curry DJ, Luerssen TG, Jea A. Periosteal chondroma of the pediatric cervical spine. Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics. 02/2009; 3(2): 151-6. 19278317

 

Fahim DK, Rhines LD. Combined Lateral/Posterior Approach for Large Anterior/Lateral Lesions. Ames C, Boriani S, Jandial R Spine and Spinal Cord Tumors: Advanced Management and Operative Techniques. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis; 2013

 

Fahim DK, Tatsui CE, Suki D, Gumin J, Lang FF, Rhines LD. Orthotopic murine model of a primary malignant bone tumor in the spine: functional, bioluminescence, and histological correlations. Journal of neurosurgery. Spine. 09/2014; 21(3): 378-85. 24971476

 

SENIOR AUTHOR:

(my residents or medical students are the first authors)

D'Andrea K, Dreyer J, Fahim DK. Utility of Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Coregistered with Intraoperative Computed Tomographic Scan for the Resection of Complex Tumors of the Spine. World neurosurgery. 12/2015; 84(6): 1804-15. 26278864

 

Lee IJ, Lee RJ, Fahim DK. Prognostic Factors and Survival Outcome in Patients with Chordoma in the United States: A Population-Based Analysis. World neurosurgery. 08/2017; 104: 346-355. 28457925

 

Turk A, Fahim DK. Radiofrequency Tumor Ablation with Vertebroplasty for the Treatment of Spine Metastases. Editor: Perez-Cruet MJ An Anatomical Approach to Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. NY: Thieme; 2018

 

Jawad MS, Fahim DK. Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Tumors of the Spine. Editor: Perez-Cruet MJ An Anatomical Approach to Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. NY: Thieme; 2018

 

Goldman JJ, Huynh KA, Elfallal W, Chaiyasate K, Fahim DK. Cervical Spine and Craniocervical Junction Reconstruction with a Vascularized Fibula Free Flap. World neurosurgery. 12/2020; 144: 34-38. 32795683

 

Mong ER, Fahim DK. Minimally Invasive Treatment of Spinal Metastases. Editor: Perez-Cruet MJ Minimally Invasive Spine Fusion. London, England: Intech Open; 2021

 

Ragheb A, Vanood A, Fahim DK. The Addition of Radiofrequency Tumor Ablation to Kyphoplasty May Reduce the Rate of Local Recurrence in Spinal Metastases Secondary to Breast Cancer. World neurosurgery. 05/2022; 161: e500-e507. 35183797

 

COLLABORATOR:

Patel AJ, Fox BD, Fahim DK, Fulkerson DH, Whitehead WE, Curry DJ, Luerssen TG, Jea A. A clinicopathologic correlation in osteoblastoma of the spine in a child. Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia. 12/2011; 18(12): 1728-30. 21992740

 

Gerszten PC, Sahgal A, Sheehan JP, Kersh R, Chen S, Flickinger JC, Quader M, Fahim D, Grills I, Shin JH, Winey B, Oh K, Sweeney RA, Guckenberger M. A multi-national report on methods for institutional credentialing for spine radiosurgery. Radiation oncology (London, England). 06/2013; 8: 158. 23806078

 

Guckenberger M, Mantel F, Gerszten PC, Flickinger JC, Sahgal A, L'tourneau D, Grills IS, Jawad M, Fahim DK, Shin JH, Winey B, Sheehan J, Kersh R. Safety and efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy as primary treatment for vertebral metastases: a multi-institutional analysis. Radiation oncology (London, England). 10/2014; 9: 226. 25319530

 

Jawad MS, Zhou J, Harb JG, Wilkinson JB, Prausa SK, Wloch J, Krauss DJ, Fahim D, Yan D, Grills IS. Dosimetric evaluation of target coverage as a predictor of local failure following stereotactic body radiation therapy for spinal tumors. Journal of radiosurgery and SBRT. 01/2015; 3(3): 225-235. 29296405

 

Sellin JN, Suki D, Harsh V, Elder BD, Fahim DK, McCutcheon IE, Rao G, Rhines LD, Tatsui CE. Factors affecting survival in 43 consecutive patients after surgery for spinal metastases from thyroid carcinoma. Journal of neurosurgery. Spine. 10/2015; 23(4): 419-28. 26140400

 

Jawad MS, Fahim DK, Gerszten PC, Flickinger JC, Sahgal A, Grills IS, Sheehan J, Kersh R, Shin J, Oh K, Mantel F, Guckenberger M, , on behalf of the Elekta Spine Radiosurgery Research Consortium. Vertebral compression fractures after stereotactic body radiation therapy: a large, multi-institutional, multinational evaluation. Journal of neurosurgery. Spine. 06/2016; 24(6): 928-36. 26895526

 

Hashmi A, Guckenberger M, Kersh R, Gerszten PC, Mantel F, Grills IS, Flickinger JC, Shin JH, Fahim DK, Winey B, Oh K, John Cho BC, L'tourneau D, Sheehan J, Sahgal A. Re-irradiation stereotactic body radiotherapy for spinal metastases: a multi-institutional outcome analysis. Journal of neurosurgery. Spine. 11/2016; 25(5): 646-653. 27341054

 

Roesch J, Cho JBC, Fahim DK, Gerszten PC, Flickinger JC, Grills IS, Jawad M, Kersh R, Letourneau D, Mantel F, Sahgal A, Shin JH, Winey B, Guckenberger M. Risk for surgical complications after previous stereotactic body radiotherapy of the spine. Radiation oncology (London, England). 09/2017; 12(1): 153. 28893299

 

Foerster R, Cho BCJ, Fahim DK, Gerszten PC, Flickinger JC, Grills IS, Jawad MS, Kersh CR, L�tourneau D, Mantel F, Sahgal A, Shin JH, Winey BA, Guckenberger M. Histopathological Findings After Reirradiation Compared to First Irradiation of Spinal Bone Metastases With Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy: A Cohort Study. Neurosurgery. 02/2019; 84(2): 435-441. 29547929

 

WORLD NEUROSURGERY published my series regarding the addition of radiofrequency ablation to kyphoplasty procedures for patients with compression fractures secondary to metastatic disease to the spine will likely impact the care of thousands or tens of thousands of breast cancer patients every year.  This article suggests that adding a simple step (radiofrequency ablation) to a procedure already being performed for these patients to treat their fractures (kyphoplasty), may significantly decrease their risk of tumor recurrence.  This was my series of breast cancer patients, but I intend to publish my findings regarding the use of this treatment in other common cancers that spread to the spine.

 

As a collaborator with the International Spine Radiosurgery Research Consortium, I have had the opportunity to contribute to some of the most significant scholarly works regarding the use of spine radiosurgery for the treatment of patients with metastatic disease to the spine.  Our manuscript on institutional credentialing is used to guide institutions around the world in their credentialing of physicians performing spine radiosurgery.  

  

I am particularly excited about my research that I presented at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.  Preliminary findings of this research were presented at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Meeting, and subsequently at the European Association of Neurological Surgeons Meeting in Belgrade, Serbia.  I believe this research has the potential to revolutionize and redefine the standard of care for spine instrumentation and reconstruction in the setting of vertebrectomy for metastatic disease of the spine.  Currently when patients need a vertebrectomy for metastatic disease to the spine, they undergo a long operation with a long incision and significant blood loss in order to have screws placed at two or three levels above and below the level with the tumor.  My series shows that it is perfectly safe to place screws at only ONE level above and ONE level below the tumor resection.  This means shorter operations, smaller incisions, less blood loss, lower risk of complications, and faster recovery for patients who are already suffering from metastatic cancer.