How is the risk of fracture evaluated in patients with secondary bone tumours?

The Mirel score is a clinical tool specifically designed to evaluate the risk of pathological fractures in patients with metastatic bone disease. It takes into account several factors, including the location of the bone metastasis, the type of primary cancer, the size of the lesion, and the patient's functional status. Each factor is assigned a score, and the total score helps to stratify the risk of fracture, guiding clinicians in their decision-making around treatment options, such as whether to pursue surgical intervention or conservative management.

While other tools exist for assessing fracture risk or bone health, the Mirel score is distinctively appropriate for patients with secondary bone tumours, as it directly correlates with the characteristics of metastatic disease and their potential to compromise bone integrity. Thus, it's an essential component of care for this patient population, ensuring that preventative measures or treatments are appropriately tailored based on individual risk assessments.