Surgery for intramedullary spinal cord ependymomas in the neuromonitoring era: results from a consecutive series of 100 patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Benjamin Skrap ◽  
Vincenzo Tramontano ◽  
Franco Faccioli ◽  
Mario Meglio ◽  
Giampietro Pinna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Evoked Potentials ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Learning Curves ◽  
Consecutive Series ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
D Wave

OBJECTIVE The established treatment of intramedullary spinal cord ependymomas (ISCEs) is resection. Surgical series reporting treatment results often lack homogeneity, as these are collected over long time spans and their analysis is plagued by surgical learning curves and inconsistent use of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM). The authors report the oncological and functional long-term outcomes in a modern series of 100 consecutive ISCEs that were resected between 2000 and 2015 by a surgically experienced team that consistently utilized IONM. METHODS In this retrospective study, the authors tailored surgical strategy and multimodal IONM, including somatosensory evoked potentials, muscle motor evoked potentials (mMEPs), and D-waves, with the aim of gross-total resection (GTR). Preservation of the D-wave was the primary objective, and preservation of mMEPs was the second functional objective. Functional status was evaluated using the modified McCormick Scale (MMS) preoperatively, postoperatively, and at follow-up. RESULTS Preoperatively, 89 patients were functionally independent (MMS grade I or II). A GTR was achieved in 89 patients, 10 patients had a stable residual, and 1 patient underwent reoperation for tumor progression. At a mean follow-up of 65.4 months, 82 patients were functionally independent, and 11 lost their functional independence after surgery (MMS grades III–V). Muscle MEP loss predicted short-term postoperative worsening (p < 0.0001) only, while the strongest predictors of a good functional long-term outcome were lower preoperative MMS grades (p < 0.0001) and D-wave preservation. D-wave monitorability was 67%; it was higher with lower preoperative MMS grades and predicted a better recovery (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS In this large series of ISCEs, a high rate of GTR and long-term favorable functional outcome were achieved. Short- and long-term functional outcomes were best reflected by mMEPs and D-wave monitoring, respectively.

Characteristics and Long-Term Outcome of 20 Children With Intramedullary Spinal Cord Cavernous Malformations

Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Ren ◽  
Tao Hong ◽  
Gao Zeng ◽  
Chuan He ◽  
Xiaoyu Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Consecutive Series ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Cavernous Malformations ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Disability Status

Abstract BACKGROUND No prior reports have focused on the natural history and long-term outcomes of intramedullary spinal cord cavernous malformations (ISCCMs) in children. OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of pediatric ISCCMs and identify the risk of hemorrhage. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed a series of 20 pediatric patients (<18 yr old) from a consecutive series of 254 patients with ISCCMs evaluated at a single institution. RESULTS Of the 20 pediatric patients, 9 (45.0%) presented with a severe neurological and disability status. The annual hemorrhagic rate in pediatric patients was 8.2%/patient/year. After initial overt hemorrhage events, the annual overt rehemorrhage rate increased to 30.7%/patient/year. In 234 adult patients, the respective rates were 2.8% and 7.4%. Thoracic or lumbar level lesions (P = .002, OR = 3.425, 95% CI = 1.588-7.387) and rehemorrhagic events (P = .005, OR = 3.209, 95% CI = 1.415-7.279) were more likely to follow an aggressive course. There were no significant differences in the sex distribution, location and size of lesions, types of symptoms, likelihood of a severe neurological and disability status, or immediate and long-term postoperative outcomes between pediatric and adult patients with ISCCMs CONCLUSION The annual overt hemorrhage rate and rehemorrhage rate of ISCCMs were higher in affected children than in affected adults. Surgical resection of pediatric ISCCMs remains the preferred therapeutic option and provides favorable outcomes.

scholarly journals Delayed variations in the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative neuromonitoring in the resection of intramedullary spinal cord tumors

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. E21
Author(s):  
Gil Kimchi ◽  
Nachshon Knoller ◽  
Akiva Korn ◽  
Yahel Eyal-Mazuz ◽  
Yechiam Sapir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Postoperative Period ◽  
Intraoperative Neuromonitoring ◽  
Spinal Cord Tumors ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Over Time ◽  
D Wave

OBJECTIVE The use of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) has become an imperative adjunct to the resection of intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs). While the diagnostic utility of IONM during the immediate postoperative period has been previously studied, its long-term diagnostic accuracy has seldom been thoroughly assessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term variations in the diagnostic accuracy of transcranial motor evoked potentials (tcMEPs), somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), and D-wave recordings during IMSCT excision. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective evaluation of imaging studies, patient charts, operative reports, and IONM recordings of patients who were operated on for gross-total or subtotal resection of IMSCTs at a single institution between 2012 and 2018. Variations in the specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for postoperative functional outcome (McCormick Scale) were analyzed at postoperative day 1 (POD1), 6 weeks postoperatively (PO-6 weeks), and at the latest follow-up. RESULTS Overall, 28 patients were included. The mean length of follow-up was 19 ± 23.4 months. Persistent motor attenuations occurred in 71.4% of the cohort. MEP was the most sensitive modality (78.6%, 87.5%, and 85.7% sensitivity at POD1, PO-6 weeks, and last follow-up, respectively). The specificity of the D-wave was the most consistent over time (100%, 83.35%, and 90% specificity at the aforementioned time points). The PPV of motor recordings decreased over time (58% vs 33% and 100% vs 0 for tcMEP and D-wave at POD1 and last follow-up, respectively), while their NPV consistently increased (67% vs 89% and 70% vs 100% for tcMEP and D-wave at POD1 and last follow-up, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The diagnostic accuracy of IONM in the resection of IMSCTs varies during the postoperative period. The decrease in the PPV of motor recordings over time suggests that this method is more predictive of short-term rather than long-term neurological deficits. The increasing NPV of motor recordings indicates a higher diagnostic accuracy in the identification of patients who preserve neurological function, albeit with an increased proportion of false-negative alarms for the immediate postoperative period. These variations should be considered in the surgical decision-making process when weighing the risk of resection-associated neurological injury against the implications of incomplete tumor resection.

Surgical approaches and long-term outcomes of intramedullary spinal cord cavernous malformations: a single-center consecutive series of 219 patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Ren ◽  
Tao Hong ◽  
Chuan He ◽  
Xiaoyu Li ◽  
Yongjie Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Surgical Approaches ◽  
Consecutive Series ◽  
Single Center ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Cavernous Malformations ◽  
Surgical Strategies

OBJECTIVEOptimal surgical strategies for intramedullary spinal cord cavernous malformations (ISCCMs) are not optimized and remain problematic. In this study the authors identify rational surgical strategies for ISCCMs and predictors of outcomes after resection.METHODSA single-center study was performed with 219 consecutive surgically treated patients who presented from 2002 to 2017 and were analyzed retrospectively. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale was used to evaluate neurological functions. Patient characteristics, surgical approaches, and immediate and long-term postoperative outcomes were identified.RESULTSThe average ISCCM size was 10.5 mm. The spinal level affected was cervical in 24.8% of patients, thoracic in 73.4%, and lumbar in 1.8%. The locations of the lesions in the horizontal plane were 30.4% ventral, 41.6% dorsal, and 28.0% central. Of the 214 patients included in the cohort for operative evaluation, 62.6% had superficially located lesions, while 37.4% were embedded. Gross-total resection was achieved in 98.1% of patients. The immediate postoperative neurological condition worsened in 10.3% of the patients. Multivariate logistic regression identified mild preoperative function (p = 0.014, odds ratio [OR] 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–14.8) and thoracolumbar-level lesions (p = 0.01, OR 15.7, 95% CI 1.9–130.2) as independent predictors of worsening. The mean follow-up duration in 187 patients was 45.9 months. Of these patients, 63.1% were stable, 33.2% improved, and 3.7% worsened. Favorable outcomes were observed in 86.1% of patients during long-term follow-up and were significantly associated with preoperative mild neurological and disability status (p = 0.000) and cervically located lesions (p = 0.009). The depths of the lesions were associated with worse long-term outcomes (p = 0.001), and performing myelotomy directly through a yellowish abnormal surface in moderate-depth lesions was an independent predictor of worsening (p = 0.023, OR 35.3, 95% CI 1.6–756.3).CONCLUSIONSResection performed with an individualized surgical approach remains the primary therapeutic option in ISCCMs. Performing surgery in patients with mild symptoms at the thoracolumbar level and embedded located lesions requires more discretion.

scholarly journals Long term outcome of functional independence and quality of life after traumatic SCI in Germany

Spinal Cord ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Möller ◽  
Rüdiger Rupp ◽  
Norbert Weidner ◽  
Christoph Gutenbrunner ◽  
Yorck B. Kalke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Study design Multicenter observational study. Objective To describe the long-term outcome of functional independence and quality of life (QoL) for individuals with traumatic and ischemic SCI beyond the first year after injury. Setting A multicenter study in Germany. Methods Participants of the European multicenter study about spinal cord injury (EMSCI) of three German SCI centers were included and followed over time by the German spinal cord injury cohort study (GerSCI). Individuals’ most recent spinal cord independence measure (SCIM) scores assessed by a clinician were followed up by a self-report (SCIM-SR) and correlated to selected items of the WHO short survey of quality of life (WHO-QoL-BREF). Results Data for 359 individuals were obtained. The average time passed the last clinical SCIM examination was 81.47 (SD 51.70) months. In total, 187 of the 359 received questionnaires contained a completely evaluable SCIM-SR. SCIM scores remained stable with the exception of reported management of bladder and bowel resulting in a slight decrease of SCIM-SR of −2.45 points (SD 16.81). SCIM-SR scores showed a significant correlation with the selected items of the WHO-QoL-BREF (p < 0.01) with moderate to strong influence. Conclusion SCIM score stability over time suggests a successful transfer of acquired independence skills obtained during primary rehabilitation into the community setting paralleled by positively related QoL measurements but bladder and bowel management may need special attention.

Long-term outcome of social phobia treated by exposure

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 899-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. FAVA ◽  
S. GRANDI ◽  
C. RAFANELLI ◽  
C. RUINI ◽  
S. CONTI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Phobia ◽  
Consecutive Series ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Concurrent Use ◽  
Complete Treatment ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Dsm Iv

Background. There is very little information on long-term follow-up of social phobia.Methods. A consecutive series of 70 patients satisfying the DSM-IV criteria for social phobia was treated in an out-patient clinic with behavioural methods based on exposure homework. Forty-five patients were judged to be remitted after eight individual sessions of psychotherapy. A 2 to 12 year (median = 6 years) follow-up was performed. Survival analysis was selected to characterize the clinical course of patients. Assessments were performed before treatment, at the end of therapy, after 1 year, and subsequently on a yearly basis, and utilized selected items of Paykel's Clinical Interview for Depression.Results. Six of the 45 patients (13%) had a relapse of social phobia at some time during follow-up. The estimated cumulative percentage of patients remaining in remission was 98 after 2 years, 85 after 5 years and 85 after 10 years. Such probabilities increased in the absence of a personality disorder, of residual social phobic avoidance after exposure, and of concurrent use of benzodiazepines.Conclusions. The findings suggest that, even though one patient out of three is unable to complete treatment or does not benefit sufficiently from it, exposure treatment can provide lasting effects to the majority of patients with social phobia. Disappearance of residual, subclinical social phobic avoidance appears to be the target of treatment.

Outcome after Operative Treatment of Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors in Adults: Intermediate and Long-Term Results in 51 Patients

Neurosurgery ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 855-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Operative Treatment ◽  
Extent Of Resection ◽  
Long Term Results ◽  
Spinal Cord Tumors ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Results Of Treatment

Abstract The reported results of treatment of intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCT) are difficult to interpret because of heterogeneous management strategies, small numbers of patients, and short periods of follow-up. In 1985 we published the early results of operative treatment of 29 patients with IMSCT and were cautiously optimistic that aggressive operative management would have a salutary effect on long-term outcome. In this report, the most recent clinical status of these 29 original patients is reviewed, along with that of 22 additional ones, to assess the intermediate and long-term results of treatment of IMSCT in 51 patients who underwent microsurgical resection between 1981 and 1987. Of these 51 patients, 24 had ependymomas, 18 had astrocytomas, and the remainder had a variety of less common lesions. Thirty-seven patients survive and have been followed for periods up to 72 months (mean 38 months). The neurological conditions of 21 patients are improved or have stabilized following operation. The conditions of 16 patients are worse postoperatively: 11 from operation and 5 from progression of disease. Eight patients are neurologically intact, 7 walk independently but abnormally, 9 ambulate with the aid of a cane or walker, and the remaining 13 are not ambulatory. Twelve of 18 patients with astrocytomas and 2 of 24 patients with ependymomas have died after a mean survival of 10 months from operation. Patients with ependymomas who had gross total resection have fared the best, with no deaths or recurrences, but no relationship could be discerned between the extent of resection and outcome in patients with astrocytomas. The author concludes that radical resection of IMSCT may be performed with initial stabilization or improvement of neurological function in the majority of patients. In patients with ependymomas the extent of resection correlated well with long-term outcome. In patients with astrocytomas. however, there was no such relationship. All 7 patients with astrocytomas of Grades III and IV have died, as have 4 of 11 patients with astrocytomas of Grades I and II.

Intramedullary spinal cord ependymomas ? a study of 45 cases with long-term follow-up

1992 ◽  
Vol 119 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 74-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Ferrante ◽  
L. Mastronardi ◽  
P. Celli ◽  
P. Lunardi ◽  
M. Acqui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

Surgical treatment for intramedullary spinal cord melanocytomas

2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Horn ◽  
Peter Nakaji ◽  
Stephen W. Coons ◽  
Curtis A. Dickman
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Complete Resection ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Local Infiltration ◽  
Patients Âgés ◽  
Patient Demographics

Spinal meningeal melanocytomas are rare lesions that are histologically benign and can behave aggressively, with local infiltration. The authors present their experience with intramedullary spinal cord melanocytomas consisting of 3 cases, which represents the second largest series in the literature. A retrospective chart review was performed following identification of all spinal melanocytomas treated at the author's institution, based on information obtained from a neuropathology database. The charts were reviewed for patient demographics, surgical procedure, clinical outcome, and long-term tumor progression. Three patients were identified in whom spinal melanocytoma had been diagnosed between 1989 and 2006. The patients' ages were 37, 37, and 48 years, and the location of their tumor was C1–3, T9–10, and T-12, respectively. All 3 had complete resection with no adjuvant radiotherapy during follow-up periods of 16, 38, and 185 months, respectively. One patient demonstrated a recurrence 29 months after resection and the other 2 patients have demonstrated asymptomatic recurrences on imaging studies obtained at 16 and 38 months following resection. With these cases added to the available literature, the evidence strongly suggests that complete resection is the treatment of choice for spinal melanocytomas. Even with complete resection, recurrences are common and close follow-up is needed for the long term in these patients. Radiation therapy should be reserved for those cases in which complete resection is not possible or in which there is recurrence.

Intramedullary ependymoma of the spinal cord

1990 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul C. McCormick ◽  
Roland Torres ◽  
Kalmon D. Post ◽  
Bennett M. Stein
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Mr Imaging ◽  
Tumor Recurrence ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Functional Improvement ◽  
Consecutive Series ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

✓ A consecutive series of 23 patients underwent operative removal of an intramedullary spinal cord ependymoma between January, 1976, and September, 1988. Thirteen women and 10 men between the age of 19 and 70 years experienced symptoms for a mean of 34 months preceding initial diagnosis. Eight patients had undergone treatment prior to tumor recurrence and referral. Mild neurological deficits were present in 22 patients on initial examination. The location of the tumors was predominantly cervical or cervicothoracic. Radiological evaluation revealed a wide spinal cord in all cases. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was the single most important radiological procedure. At operation, a complete removal was achieved in all patients. No patient received postoperative radiation therapy. Histological examination revealed a benign ependymoma in all cases. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 159 months (mean 62 months) with seven patients followed for a minimum of 10 years after surgery. Fourteen patients underwent postoperative MR imaging at intervals ranging from 8 months to 10 years postoperatively. No patient has been lost to follow-up review and there were no deaths. No patient showed definite clinical or radiological evidence of tumor recurrence during the follow-up period. Recent neurological evaluation revealed functional improvement from initial preoperative clinical status in eight patients, no significant change in 12 patients, and deterioration in three patients. The data support the belief that long-term disease-free control of intramedullary spinal ependymomas with acceptable morbidity may be achieved utilizing microsurgical removal alone.

Long-Term Follow-up of Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 332-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Figen Yilmaz ◽  
Fusun Sahin ◽  
Semra Aktug ◽  
Banu Kuran ◽  
Adem Yilmaz
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Spinal Injury ◽  
Functional Independence Measure ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
American Spinal Injury Association ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the motor, sensory, and functional recovery in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods. Forty-one patients with SCI participated in this study. Twenty patients were evaluated after discharge. Each patient was evaluated by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) at admission, before discharge, and at least at 6 months after discharge. Friedman, Dunn, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analysis. Results. There were 17 male and 3 female patients. Seven patients had complete SCI, and 13 patients had incomplete SCI. The evaluation of motor, sensory, and FIM scores at admission showed significant improvement in all of the patients during the follow-up period (P < 0.0001). Five incompletely injured cases improved with regard to ASIA staging. Motor and FIM scores significantly increased at follow-up for converted and unconverted patients. All parameters increased at follow-up in patients who were complete and incomplete. Motor scores significantly increased at discharge and at follow-up. FIM scores also increased significantly at follow-up in incomplete patients. Conclusion. Motor, sensory, and FIM scores increased in patients with SCI after a follow-up period of 18 months. Improvement to a higher ASIA stage could be accomplished by 25% of the patients. Although both complete and incomplete patients recovered significantly at the follow-up period, only incompletely injured cases could convert to a higher ASIA stage.

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