Secondary bone cancer in the spine. Coloured magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of a mid-sagittal section of the thoracolumbar spine of a 42-year-old patient with breast cancer. There is evidence of diffuse (wide-spread) secondary tumours in the bones (vertebrae) of the entire dorsolumbar spine (region of the backbone consisting of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae). This is because the cancer has spread (metastasised) from a primary breast cancer, and formed secondary malignant (cancerous) tumours in the vertebrae. Prognosis is very poor, with treatment aimed at preserving function and quality of life. Radiotherapy and steroid drug therapies are most commonly used. This is a T1-weighted MRI scan.