Radical resection of intramedullary spinal cord tumors in adults

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 492-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Cooper ◽  
Fred Epstein
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Neurological Deficit ◽  
Radical Resection ◽  
Spinal Cord Tumors ◽  
Intramedullary Tumors ◽  
Duration Of Symptoms ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The management of patients with intramedullary spinal cord tumors is controversial. In the past, these tumors have often been treated with biopsy or subtotal removal followed by irradiation — a therapy that is usually associated with early tumor recurrence and progressive neurological impairment. In an attempt to improve on the outcome of patients with intramedullary tumors, the authors performed radical resection in most of the 29 adult patients who had surgery for these tumors within the past 30 months. The mean duration of symptoms was 9½ years, and all patients presented because of progressive neurological deficit. Patients were evaluated with metrizamide myelography-computerized tomography scanning and intraoperative ultrasound imaging to define the site of the tumor and cystic components. There were 14 ependymomas, 11 astrocytomas, two lipomas, and one case each of intramedullary fibrosis and astrogliosis. Solid tumor spanned a mean of five spinal cord segments and 16 tumors were associated with cysts. Twenty tumors were in the cervical and/or cervicothoracic regions. Total removal was achieved in 14 patients and “99% removal” in seven others. In 21 of 29 patients (72%), the neurological condition was stabilized or improved as a result of the operation. Postoperative deterioration occurred for the most part in patients who could not walk or who had minimal motor function at the time of operation, and these patients are no longer considered as operative candidates. Radical resection of intramedullary tumors can be achieved, with stabilization or improvement of neurological deficit in the majority of patients.

Intramedullary spinal cord tumors in patients older than 50 years of age: management and outcome analysis

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raj K. Shrivastava ◽  
Fred J. Epstein ◽  
Noel I. Perin ◽  
Kalmon D. Post ◽  
George I. Jallo
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Spinal Cord Tumors ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Older Adult Population ◽  
Fine Print

Object. Intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs) in the older-age adult population pose complex management issues regarding the extent of resection and functional outcome, especially in terms of quality of life. Historically, IMSCTs in the older adult population were treated with irradiation alone because it was assumed that functional recovery would be poor. The authors examined their IMSCT database and report the first large series of IMSCTs in patients older than 50 years of age. Methods. In this retrospective clinical and chart review there were 30 cases meeting inclusion criteria drawn from databases at three different institutions. A modified McCormick Scale was used to assess functional levels in all 30 patients pre- and postoperatively. The mean age of patients in this cohort was 59.8 years (range 50–78 years), and the mean follow- up period was 10.6 years (range 2–16 years). Ependymoma was the most common tumor (83%), and 55% were located in the thoracic spine. The most common presenting symptom was sensory dysesthesia, with rare motor loss. The prodromal period to treatment was 19.4 months. Based on the McCormick Scale score at last follow-up examination 67% of patients were clinically functionally the same, 9% were worse, and 24% were improved after surgery. There were two deaths due tumor progression (both malignant tumors) and one recurrence (anaplastic astrocytoma). All three patients in whom malignant astrocytomas were diagnosed underwent postoperative radiation therapy. Conclusions. In the population of patients older than age 50 years, thoracic ependymomas are the most common IMSCTs that present characteristically with sensory symptoms. The longer prodromal period in the older adult population may reflect the fact that their diagnosis and workup is inadequate. There was no significant increase in the length of stay in the neurosurgical ward. The authors recommend motor evoked potential-guided aggressive microsurgical resection, because the long-term outcome of benign lesions is excellent (good functional recovery and no tumor recurrence).

Intramedullary spinal cord tumors in children under the age of 3 years

1996 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 1036-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shlomo Constantini ◽  
John Houten ◽  
Douglas C. Miller ◽  
Diana Freed ◽  
Memet M. Ozek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Glioblastoma Multiforme ◽  
Spinal Cord Tumor ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
New York University ◽  
Spinal Cord Tumors ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Over a 13-year period extending from 1980 to 1993, 27 children less than 3 years of age underwent operation for removal of an intramedullary spinal cord tumor (IMSCT). The majority (18 of 27) of children had undergone surgery before being referred to New York University (NYU) Medical Center. The most common reasons for radiological investigation were pain (42%), motor regression (36%), gait abnormalities (27%), torticollis (27%), and progressive kyphoscoliosis (24%). Forty procedures were performed in 27 children. Nine children underwent two operations and two children underwent three procedures. A gross-total resection was achieved in 72% of the procedures. There was no surgical mortality. A comparison of the preoperative and 3-month postoperative functional grades for the first NYU procedure (NYU-1) yielded the following findings: 20 patients' conditions remained the same, five patients improved, and two patients deteriorated. The functional outcomes of a second operation (NYU-2) were similar. The majority of the children (24 of 27, 89%) had histologically determined low-grade lesions. There were 12 patients with low-grade astrocytomas (Grades I-III), eight with gangliogliomas, two with ganglioglioneurocytomas, one with a glioneurofibroma, and one child with a mixed astro/oligodendroglioma. Two children had anaplastic astrocytomas (Grades II–III) and one child had a glioblastoma multiforme. In a median follow-up review of 76 months, two patients died and two patients were lost to follow up. The 3- and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 81.7% (standard error of the mean (SEM) 0.083) and 76.2% (SEM 0.094), respectively. Eight of 24 patients suffered a recurrence within a mean time of 45.4 ± 28.9 months. All were treated with surgery (NYU-2). Lesions recurred in three of 12 children with low-grade astrocytomas, two of eight children with gangliogliomas, one child with an anaplastic astrocytoma, one child with a ganglioglioneurocytoma, and one child with a glioblastoma multiforme. At follow-up review, most of these children were doing well. Sixteen are in functional Grades I or II and 18 children attend a normal school system. The authors conclude that surgery for the removal of IMSCTs in children less than 3 years of age can be performed radically and safely. The postoperative functional performance is determined by the degree of the preoperative deficit. It is, therefore, of utmost importance to diagnose and treat these children as early as possible. Spinal cord tumors should be recognized as potentially excisable lesions on their initial presentation and when they recur. The optimum treatment for malignant lesions is still to be determined.

Surgical management of holocord intramedullary spinal cord astrocytomas in children

1981 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 829-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Epstein ◽  
Nancy Epstein
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Surgical Management ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Radical Resection ◽  
Neurological Recovery ◽  
Total Removal ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

✓ This report describes the therapeutic approach to extensive multisegmental spinal cord astrocytomas in three pediatric patients. It is concluded that radical resection (gross total removal) is compatible with neurological recovery.

Radical excision of intramedullary spinal cord tumors: surgical morbidity and long-term follow-up evaluation in 164 children and young adults

2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shlomi Constantini ◽  
Douglas C. Miller ◽  
Jeffrey C. Allen ◽  
Lucy B. Rorke ◽  
Diana Freed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radical Resection ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Spinal Cord Tumors ◽  
Surgical Morbidity ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Grade Gliomas ◽  
Children And Young Adults ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The majority of intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCT) in children and young adults are low-grade gliomas. Radical resection of similar tumors in the cerebral hemisphere or cerebellum is usually curative; however, the conventional management for IMSCTs remains partial resection followed by radiotherapy because of the concern for surgical morbidity. Nevertheless, radical resection of IMSCTs without routine adjuvant treatment has been the rule at our institution since 1980. In an attempt to resolve this controversy, the long-term morbidity and survival in a large series of children have been retrospectively reviewed. Methods. The database records and current status of 164 patients 21 years of age and younger in whom an IMSCT was resected were reviewed. A gross-total resection (> 95%) was achieved in 76.8% of the surgical procedures. Subtotal resections (80–95%) were performed in 20.1%. The majority of patients (79.3%) had histologically low-grade lesions. There were no deaths due to surgery. When comparing the preoperative and 3-month postoperative functional grades, 60.4% stayed the same, 15.8% improved, and 23.8% deteriorated. Only 13 patients deteriorated by more than one functional grade. Patients with either no deficits or only mild deficits before surgery were rarely injured by the procedure, reinforcing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. The major determinant of long-term patient survival was histological composition of the tumor. The 5-year progression-free survival rate was 78% for patients with low-grade gliomas and 30% for those with high-grade gliomas. Patients in whom an IMSCT was only partially resected (< 80%) fared significantly worse. Conclusions. The long-term survival and quality of life for patients with low-grade gliomas treated by radical resection alone is comparable or superior to minimal resection and radiotherapy. The optimum therapy for patients with high-grade gliomas is yet to be determined.

Resection of intramedullary spinal cord tumors in children: assessment of long-term motor and sensory deficits

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. McGirt ◽  
Kaisorn L. Chaichana ◽  
April Atiba ◽  
Frank Attenello ◽  
Kevin C. Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Neurological Deficit ◽  
Neurological Function ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Urinary Dysfunction ◽  
Symptom Duration ◽  
Spinal Cord Tumors ◽  
Duration Of Symptoms ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord

Object With modern surgical advances, radical resection of pediatric intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs) can be expected to preserve long-term neurological function. Nevertheless, postoperative neurological decline is not uncommon after surgery, and many patients continue to experience long-term dysesthetic symptoms. Preoperative predictors of postoperative neurological decline and sensory syndromes have not been investigated and may serve as a guide for surgical risk stratification. Methods Neurological function (as determined using the modified McCormick Scale [mMS]) preoperatively, postoperatively, and 3 months after surgery was retrospectively recorded from patient charts in 164 consecutive patients undergoing resection of IMSCTs. A median 4 years (interquartile range [IQR] 1–8 years) after surgery, long-term motor and sensory symptoms were assessed by telephone interviews and corroborated by subsequent medical visits in 120 available patients. This long-term assessment was retrospectively reviewed for the purposes of this study. The authors reviewed this series to assess long-term motor, sensory, and urinary outcomes and to determine independent risk factors of postoperative neurological decline and long-term sensory dysfunction. Results Patients were 8.6 ± 5.7 years old and presented with a median mMS of 2 (IQR 2–4). Three months after surgery, 38 patients (23%) continued to experience decreased neurological function (1 mMS point) incurred perioperatively. Increasing age (p = 0.028), unilateral symptoms (p = 0.046), and urinary dysfunction at presentation (p = 0.004) independently predicted persistent 3-month perioperative decline. At long-term follow-up (median 4 years), 39 (33%) exhibited improvements in their mMS scores, 13 (30%) had improvement in their urinary dysfunction, and 27 (30%) had resolution of their dysesthesias. Seventy-eight patients (65%) experienced long-term dysesthetic symptoms. Increasing age (p = 0.024), preoperative symptom duration > 12 months (p = 0.027), and worsened postoperative mMS score at hospital discharge (p = 0.013) independently increased the risk of long-term dysesthesias. Conclusions In the authors' experience, nearly one third of patients may experience improvement in motor, sensory, and urinary dysfunction years after IMSCT resection, whereas the majority will continue to experience long-term dysesthetic symptoms. Improvement in motor deficits preceded improvement in sensory syndromes, and urinary dysfunction typically resolved much longer after surgery. The risk of persistent perioperative motor decline was increased with older age, unilateral symptoms, preoperative urinary symptoms, and less severe preoperative neurological deficit. The risk of long-term dysesthesias was increased with older age, increased duration of symptoms prior to resection, and greater postoperative neurological deficit.

Leptomeningeal spread of intramedullary spinal cord tumors

1988 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
William O. Bell ◽  
Roger J. Packer ◽  
Kathy R. Seigel ◽  
Lucy B. Rorke ◽  
Leslie N. Sutton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Tumors ◽  
Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leptomeningeal Spread ◽  
The Past ◽  
Thoracic Spinal

✓ Three patients with intramedullary spinal cord tumors and secondary leptomeningeal spread of their tumors are presented. Two patients had astrocytomas and one had a ganglioglioma. Two tumors were located in the cervical spinal cord and one within the thoracic spinal cord. Review of the past and recent literature shows leptomeningeal dissemination of spinal cord tumors to be relatively rare, but it should be suspected and investigated in any patient whose condition deteriorates following removal of a spinal cord neoplasm.

Central neurocytomas of the cervical spinal cord

1994 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 288-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen B. Tatter ◽  
Lawrence F. Borges ◽  
David N. Louis
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Correct Diagnosis ◽  
Central Neurocytoma ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Spinal Cord Tumors ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Central neurocytoma is a neuronal neoplasm that occurs supratentorially in the lateral or third ventricles. The authors report the clinical, neuroradiological, and neuropathological features of two neurocytomas arising in the spinal cord of two men, aged 65 and 49 years. The patients presented with progressive neurological deficits referable to the cervical spinal cord. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed isodense intramedullary spinal cord tumors at the C3–4 level. Both tumors were initially misdiagnosed as gliomas. In Case 1 the correct diagnosis was made after electron microscopy revealed neuronal features. Immunostaining in Case 2 revealed that tumor cells were positive for synaptophysin and negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein, strongly indicating a neuronal tumor. It is suggested that this spinal cord neoplasm be included under the designation “central neurocytoma.”

Unusual spinal cord enlargement related to intramedullary hemangioblastoma

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 550-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Solomon ◽  
Bennett M. Stein
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Cyst Formation ◽  
Spinal Cord Tumors ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Tumor ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
Considerable Range ◽  
Fine Print

✓ In a series of 60 intramedullary spinal cord tumors, there were eight cases of hemangioblastoma. Seven of these eight patients displayed evidence of diffuse spinal cord enlargement over multiple levels at a considerable range beyond the actual location of the tumor. One patient had a large intramedullary cyst that accounted for only part of the enlargement, and one had multiple tumor nodules. Six other patients had no obvious explanation for the diffuse cord enlargement. This phenomenon of extensive spinal cord enlargement appears to be unique to this type of tumor and not related to multiple tumors or extensive cyst formation. The cord enlargement seems to be related to edema and congestion of the spinal cord, perhaps secondary to the vascular shunt present in the hemangioblastomas. The possible pathophysiology and clinical importance of this observation is discussed.

Astrocytomas of the spinal cord in children and adolescents

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 669-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald Reimer ◽  
Burton M. Onofrio
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Histological Grade ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Spinal Deformities ◽  
Duration Of Symptoms ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Orthopedic Procedure ◽  
Male To Female ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The authors review 32 cases of spinal cord astrocytoma in patients under 20 years of age who were treated at the Mayo Clinic between 1955 and 1980. There was a 1.3:1 male to female ratio. Twenty patients were between 6 and 15 years of age at the time of diagnosis. The duration of symptoms prior to definitive diagnosis varied from 5 days to 9 years, with an average of 24 months. The most common symptoms were pain (62.5%), gait disturbance (43.7%), numbness (18.8%), and sphincteric dysfunction (18.8%). The most common neurological findings were a Babinski response (50.0%), posterior column sensory dysfunction (40.6%), and paraparesis (37.5%). A median follow-up period of 8.6 years (range 0.8 to 25.5 years) revealed that the survival time diminished with increased histological grade of the astrocytoma (p < 0.001). The development of postlaminectomy spinal deformities represented a serious postoperative complication. This occurred in 13 patients and was first recognized between 8 and 90 months postoperatively. Six deformities occurred following cervical laminectomy, and eight patients required at least one orthopedic procedure. It is crucial to follow these patients for an extended period of time to watch for postoperative spinal deformities.

scholarly journals Surgical treatment of primary intramedullary spinal cord tumors in adult patients

2008 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Augusto Taricco ◽  
Vinicius Monteiro de Paula Guirado ◽  
Ricardo Bragança de Vasconcellos Fontes ◽  
José Pindaro Pereira Plese
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Previous Treatment ◽  
Cervical Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Tumors ◽  
Intramedullary Tumors ◽  
Treatment Protocols ◽  
Intramedullary Spinal Cord ◽  
Neurological Outcomes ◽  
Neurological Morbidity ◽  
Microsurgical Resection

BACKGROUND: Primary spinal cord intramedullary tumors are rare and present with insidious symptoms. Previous treatment protocols emphasized biopsy and radiation/chemotherapy but more aggressive protocols have emerged. OBJECTIVE: To report our experience. METHOD: Forty-eight patients were diagnosed with primary intramedullary tumors. The cervical cord was involved in 27% and thoracic in 42% of patients. Complete microsurgical removal was attempted whenever possible without added neurological morbidity. RESULTS: Complete resection was obtained in 33 (71%) patients. Neurological function remained stable or improved in 32 patients (66.7%). Ependymoma was the most frequent tumor (66.7%). CONCLUSION: Neurological outcome is superior in patients with subtle findings; aggressive microsurgical resection should be pursued with acceptable neurological outcomes.

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