Spinal cord compression in relation to clinical symptoms in patients with spinal meningiomas

Spinal meningiomas are the most common adult primary spinal tumor, constituting 24–45% of spinal intradural tumors and 2% of all meningiomas. The aim of this study was to assess postoperative complications, long-term outcomes, predictors of functional improvement and differences between elderly (≥70 years) and non-elderly (18–69 years) patients surgically treated for spinal meningiomas. Variables were retrospectively collected from patient charts and magnetic resonance images. Baseline comparisons, paired testing and regression analyses were used. In conclusion, 129 patients were included, with a median follow-up time of 8.2 years. Motor deficit was the most common presenting symptom (66%). The median time between diagnosis and surgery was 1.3 months. A postoperative complication occurred in 10 (7.8%) and tumor growth or recurrence in 6 (4.7%) patients. Surgery was associated with significant improvement of motor and sensory deficit, gait disturbance, bladder dysfunction and pain. Time to surgery, tumor area and the degree of spinal cord compression significantly predicted postoperative improvement in a modified McCormick scale (mMCs) in the univariable regression analysis, and spinal cord compression showed independent risk association in multivariable analysis. There was no difference in improvement, complications or tumor control between elderly and non-elderly patients. We concluded that surgery of spinal meningiomas was associated with significant long-term neurological improvement, which could be predicted by time to surgery, tumor size and spinal cord compression.

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Corticosteroid Treatment for Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression: A Review

Global Spine Journal ◽

10.1177/2192568217699189 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 272-279 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Gordon D. Skeoch ◽

Matthew K. Tobin ◽

Sajeel Khan ◽

Andreas A. Linninger ◽

Ankit I. Mehta

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Compression ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Cord Compression ◽

Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression ◽

Treatment Modalities ◽

High Dose ◽

Dexamethasone Treatment ◽

Corticosteroid Administration

Study Design: Narrative review. Objective: Metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) is a very frequent complication among cancer patients. Presenting commonly as nocturnal back pain, MSCC typically progresses to lower extremity paresis, loss of ambulatory capabilities, and paraplegia. In addition to standard treatment modalities, corticosteroid administration has been utilized in preclinical and clinical settings as adjunctive therapy to reduce local spinal cord edema and improve clinical symptoms. This article serves as a review of existing literature regarding corticosteroid management of MSCC and seeks to provide potential avenues of research on the topic. Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed in order to consolidate existing information regarding dexamethasone treatment of MSCC. Of all search results, 7 articles are reviewed, establishing the current understanding of metastatic spine disease and dexamethasone treatment in both animal models and in clinical trials. Results: Treatment with high-dose corticosteroids is associated with an increased rate of potentially serious systemic side effects. For this reason, definitive guidelines for the use of dexamethasone in the management of MSCC are unavailable. Conclusions: It is still unclear what role dexamethasone plays in the treatment of MSCC. It is evident that new, more localizable therapies may provide more acceptable treatment strategies using corticosteroids. Looking forward, the potential for more targeted, localized application of the steroid through the use of nanotechnology would decrease the incidence of adverse effects while maintaining the drug’s efficacy.

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Epidemiological study of cervical cord compression and its clinical symptoms in community-dwelling residents

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0256732 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. e0256732

Author(s):

Toru Hirai ◽

Koji Otani ◽

Miho Sekiguchi ◽

Shin-ichi Kikuchi ◽

Shin-ichi Konno

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Compression ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Cord Compression ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Gait Disturbance ◽

Cervical Cord ◽

Cervical Cord Compression ◽

The Relationship ◽

Disc Level

Background Degenerative compressive myelopathy (DCM) is caused by cervical cord compression. The relationship between the magnitude and clinical findings of cervical cord compression has been described in the literature, but the details remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the magnitude and clinical symptoms of cervical cord compression in community-dwelling residents. Methods The present study included 532 subjects. The subjective symptoms and the objective findings of one board-certified spine surgeon were assessed. The subjective symptoms were upper extremity pain and numbness, clumsy hand, fall in the past 1 year, and subjective gait disturbance. The objective findings were: Hoffmann, Trömner, and Wartenberg signs; Babinski’s and Chaddock’s signs; hyperreflexia of the patellar tendon and Achilles tendon reflexes; ankle clonus; Romberg and modified Romberg tests; grip and release test; finger escape sign; and grip strength. Using midsagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, the anterior–posterior (AP) diameters (mm) of the spinal cord at the C2 midvertebral body level (DC2) and at each intervertebral disc level from C2/3 to C7/T1 (DC2/3-C7/T1) were measured. The spinal cord compression ratio (R) for each intervertebral disc level was defined and calculated as DC2/3-C7/T1 divided by DC2. The lowest R (LR) along C2/3 to C7/T1 of each individual was divided into 3 grades by the tertile method. The relationship between LR and clinical symptoms was investigated by trend analysis. Results The prevalence of subjective gait disturbance increased significantly with the severity of spinal cord compression (p = 0.002812), whereas the other clinical symptoms were not significantly related with the severity of spinal cord compression. Conclusions The magnitude of cervical cord compression had no relationship with any of the neurologic findings. However, subjective gait disturbance might be a better indicator of the possibility of early stage cervical cord compression.

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Differences and characteristics of symptoms by tumor location, size, and degree of spinal cord compression: a retrospective study on 53 surgically treated, symptomatic spinal meningiomas

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/2019.12.spine191237 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 931-940

Author(s):

Satoshi Yamaguchi ◽

Arnold H. Menezes ◽

Kiyoharu Shimizu ◽

Royce W. Woodroffe ◽

Logan C. Helland ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Retrospective Study ◽

Spinal Cord Compression ◽

Tumor Location ◽

Cord Compression ◽

Sensory Disturbance ◽

Mr Images ◽

Spinal Level ◽

Motor Weakness ◽

Spinal Meningiomas

OBJECTIVEThe differences in symptoms of spinal meningiomas have rarely been discussed from the perspective of tumor characteristics. The main purpose of this paper was to define the differences, if any, in symptoms in patients with spinal meningiomas with respect to tumor size, location, and degree of spinal cord compression. The authors also sought the threshold of spinal cord compression that causes motor weakness.METHODSThe authors conducted a retrospective study of 53 cases of spinal meningiomas that were surgically treated from 2013 to 2018. Symptoms related to the tumor were classified as motor weakness, sensory disturbance, pain, and bowel/bladder dysfunction. Based on MR images, tumor location was classified by spinal level and by its attachment to the dura mater. Tumor dimensions were also measured. Occupation ratios of the tumors to the spinal canal and degree of spinal cord flattening were sought from the axial MR images that showed the highest degree of spinal cord compression.RESULTSMotor weakness and sensory disturbance were significantly more common in thoracic spine meningiomas than in cervical spine meningiomas (p < 0.001 and p = 0.013, respectively), while pain was more common in meningiomas at the craniovertebral junction (p < 0.001). The attachment, height, width, depth, and volume of the tumor showed no significant difference irrespective of the presence or absence of each symptom. In cases of motor weakness and sensory disturbance, occupation ratios and spinal cord flattening ratios were significantly larger. However, these ratios were significantly smaller in the presence of pain. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that occupation ratio independently contributed to motor weakness (OR 1.14, p = 0.035) and pain (OR 0.925, p = 0.034). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that occupation ratio with a value of 63.678% is the threshold for the tumor to cause motor weakness.CONCLUSIONSThe study showed the difference in clinical presentation of spinal meningiomas by spinal level, occupation ratio, and spinal cord flattening ratio. An occupation ratio of approximately 64% could be utilized as the threshold value of tumor growth to cause motor weakness. Tumor growth in the cervical spine might cause pain symptoms before causing motor weakness. The relationship between the tumor and its symptomatology should be discussed with respect to tumor size relative to the surrounding spinal canal.

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A prospective study of patients with impending spinal cord compression treated with palliative radiotherapy alone

Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice ◽

10.1017/s1460396912000301 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 218-225

Author(s):

L. O'Sullivan ◽

A. Clayton-Lea ◽

O. McArdle ◽

M. McGarry ◽

J. Kenny ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Compression ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Performance Status ◽

Palliative Radiotherapy ◽

Neurological Status ◽

Cord Compression ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Similar Data ◽

A Prospective Study

AbstractImpending malignant spinal cord compression (IMSCC) may be defined as compression of the thecal sac, without any visible pressure on the spinal cord itself. Although there is a perception that IMSCC patients have a better prognosis and less severe clinical symptoms than true malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) patients, these factors have never been documented in the literature.PurposeTo record the characteristics, management and functional outcome of a group of patients with IMSCC, who were treated with radiotherapy in our institution, and compare these parameters with similar data on MSCC patients.Materials and methodsData (gender, age, primary oncological diagnosis, pain, performance status and neurological status) were prospectively collected for 28 patients. Patients were then followed up post treatment to document their response to treatment and treatment-related toxicity.ResultsThe median survival of our group of IMSCC patients is similar to that of an MSCC patient. In addition, the IMSCC group exhibits significant clinical symptoms including neurological deficit.ConclusionAlthough further studies are necessary, we have found that IMSCC patients in this study share similar prognosis and clinical symptoms with MSCC patients. Clinicians should be aware of this when communicating with IMSCC patients and their families, and short-course radiotherapy should be considered.

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A Rare Case of Extra Dural Dorsal Meningioma; Case Report and Analytique Review of Literature about 77 Cases

International Journal of Innovative Research in Medical Science ◽

10.23958/ijirms/vol06-i05/1136 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (05) ◽

pp. 341-350

Author(s):

Niamien Patrice Koffi ◽

Mohcine Salami ◽

Inas Elkacemi ◽

Gazzaz Miloudi

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Compression ◽

Cord Compression ◽

Dorsal Spinal Cord ◽

Female Predominance ◽

Analytical Review ◽

Spinal Meningiomas ◽

Grade 3 ◽

The Right

Spinal meningiomas are usually intra dural tumors, the purely extra dural localization is exceptional, they are easily mistaken for malignant tumor resulting in inadequate management. Only 77 cases have been reported in the literature. Less than 28 cases have been confirmed after durotomy since 1898. We report a new observation followed by an analytical review of the literature with a study of the socio-epidemiological, radiological parameters and of the neurosurgical and progressive management of extra dural spinal meningiomas. Observation: a 57-year-old, female patient with no medical history was admitted to our training for slow dorsal spinal cord compression progression since 06 months. Neurological examination found FRANKEL stage C paraplegia, higher level D7 hypoaesthesia without sphincter disorders. The medullary MRI objectified an intraspinal process of 1.5x2x1cm, well limited, of the right posterolateral of D8-D9 causing compression of the dorsal cord with an intramedullary hyper signal in T2. The D8-D9 laminectomy was performed. Surgical exploration found an extra dural lesion without intra dural extension. The excision was macroscopically complete. Histological examination was in favor of a benign meninigothelial. The post-operative course was marked by a partial and progressive recovery of the neurological deficit and no recurrence. Discussion: the retrospective analysis of literature about 49 publications was founded that, the incidence in 1933 by Elsberg was 5.5%, Haft in 1963 found 3.5%. In 2020 our study found 3.46% of all spine meningioma. The mean age is 44.19 years [8 years -85 years] with a female predominance of 2/1. The mode of revelation is in 11.53% of fortuitous discovery, in 59.93% by the high state of spinal cord compression stage C of FRANKEL. The topography is dorsal = 51.31%, cervical = 44.76%. MRI scan has been use since 1996 at 67.60%. Laminectomy was performed in 71.79% with durotomy in 11%. The excision is complete with SIMPSON I in 70% and SYMPSON III in 27%. The predominant histological is a grade 1 of meningioma = 73.41%, grade 2 = 6.32%, grade 3 = 1.26% in 19 % meningioma was not specified by the authors. Conclusion: The prognosis of extra dural spinal meningiomas according to our study is good overall with only 3 cases of recurrence of spinal meningioma in 36 patients, or 8.33% after a mean follow-up of 31.59 months [1 -168 months] with P=0,012.

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