BACKGROUND: Image-guided percutaneous ablation methods have proved effective for treatment of benign bone tumors and for palliation of metastases involving the bone. However, the role of these techniques is controversial and has to be better defined in the setting of palliative care.

METHODS: A systematic review of the existing data regarding minimally invasive techniques for the pain management of vertebral bone metastases was performed by experts of the European Palliative Care Research Network.

RESULTS: Only five papers were taken into consideration after performing rigorous screening according to inclusion and exclusion criteria (low number of patients, retrospective series, proceedings).

DISCUSSION: According to the present data a recommendation should be made to perform kiphoplasty in patients with vertebral tumors or metastases. However, the strength of this recommendation was based on one randomized controlled study. Several weaknesses and low quality of study design were observed with other techniques.

CONCLUSION: Further randomized controlled trials are required to improve the strength of evidence available to suggest these procedures on large scale. Until then, the balance of evidence favors the use of these procedures in a small select cohort of patients with severe and disabling back pain refractory to medical therapy.