Microneurosurgical Management Of Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors

ObjectiveTo analyze and summarize the experience of diagnosis and microneurosurgical management of intramedullary spinal cord tumors.MethodsThe clinical features, imageological manifestations, diagnosis and operative outcomes of 43 consecutive in-patient cases diagnosed with intramedullary tumors treated by microsurgery in our department from February 1998 to February 2010 were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsThe cases included 11 ependymomas,6 astrocytomas,3 lipomas,3 epidermoid cysts.1 medulloblastoma (dissemination of a cerebellar medulloblastoma), and 1 hamartoma which were confirmed by postoperative pathological diagnosis. Total and subtotal resections were achieved in 12 and 10 cases respectively, and the rest cases received partial tumor removal during the operations. Postoperative neurological evaluation exhibited improvement in 18 cases, no changes in 7 cases and no deterioration or deaths. Of all patients,5 were found tumor relapses, in which 3 underwent a secondary operation in our department.Conclusion1,The best choice for intramedullary spinal cord tumors is radical microsurgical resection.2,A positive attitude is critical for intramedullary spinal cord tumors confirmed by MRI inspections, especially for those patients with neurological defects who can tolerate the operation.3,Early diagnosis and microsurgical treatment of intramedullary spinal cord tumors could relieve clinical symptoms, improve life quality, and prolong survival time of the patients.