Microsurgical Resection of Spinal Cord Tumors: Reevaluation of Personal Series

Spinal tumors are rare and comprise ∼15% of all CNS tumors. More than half (55%) are extradural. The remaining 45% are intradural spinal tumors (IST). Intradural spinal tumors are subdivided into intradural intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IISCT) (5%) and intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors (IESCT) (40%). Reported surgical series of intradural spinal tumors are rare, and every publication provides an opportunity to gain insight into surgical treatment technique pearls, complications, and outcomes.

Over the past 12 years, we treated 33 patients with IST. Four were IISCT and 29 IESCT. There were 8 men and 25 women, with ages ranging from 24 to 89 years (mean 58 years). The length of hospital stay ranged from 2 to 8 days (mean 4 days), and follow-up ranged from 1 to 36 months (mean 41 months). The histology of IESCTs included 12 meningiomas, 12 schwannomas, 4 myxopapillary ependymomas, and 1 breast cancer metastasis. Four patients had IISCTs: two astrocytomas (one high grade), one ependymoma, and one hemangioblastoma. One patient developed pseudomeningocele postoperatively and had a revision surgery. All patient had radical tumor resection and no recurrences were noted during follow-up. The neurological, operative, radiological, and outcomes features will be detailed.

The results of operative treatment of ISTs are generally good. ISTs can be radically resected with minimal morbidity, minimal complication rate, and no mortality.