Surgical Management of Spinal Intramedullary Tumors: Radical and Safe Strategy for Benign Tumors

Surgery for spinal intramedullary tumors remains one of the major challenges for neurosurgeons, due to their relative infrequency, unknown natural history, and surgical difficulty. We are sure that safe and precise resection of spinal intramedullary tumors, particularly encapsulated benign tumors, can result in acceptable or satisfactory postoperative outcomes. General surgical concepts and strategies, technical consideration, and functional outcomes after surgery are discussed with illustrative cases of spinal intramedullary benign tumors such as ependymoma, cavernous malformation, and hemangioblastoma. Selection of a posterior median sulcus, posterolateral sulcus, or direct transpial approach was determined based on the preoperative imaging diagnosis and careful inspection of the spinal cord surface. Tumor-cord interface was meticulously delineated in cases of benign encapsulated tumors. Our retrospective functional analysis of 24 consecutive cases of spinal intramedullary ependymoma followed for at least 6 months postoperatively demonstrated a mean grade on the modified McCormick functional schema of 1.8 before surgery, deteriorating significantly to 2.6 early after surgery (< 1 month after surgery), and finally returning to 1.7 in the late postoperative period (> 6 months after surgery). The risk of functional deterioration after surgery should be taken into serious consideration. Functional deterioration after surgery, including neuropathic pain even long after surgery, significantly affects patient quality of life. Better balance between tumor control and functional preservation can be achieved not only by the surgical technique or expertise, but also by intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, vascular image guidance, and postoperative supportive care. Quality of life after surgery should inarguably be given top priority.     

脊髓髓内肿瘤的显微外科手术治疗

目的：探讨脊髓髓内肿瘤显微外科手术治疗的临床疗效。方法：回顾性研究经显微手术治疗的31全 髓髓内肿瘤,对肿瘤病理类型,临床症状、手术时机、手术切除技巧及常见肿瘤的手术方法进行系统分析。结果：全切除肿瘤29例、2例星形细胞瘤次全切,我手术死亡及手术致残者,术后神经系统功能多数得以恢复或改善。结论：显微手术是脊髓髓内肿瘤最有效的治疗方法,用微创性手术技术早期切除肿瘤可获得满意疗效。     

脊髓髓内肿瘤的显微外科治疗及临床观察

目的　总结脊髓髓内肿瘤的显微手术经验 ,并对其并发症的处理及疗效进行评价。方法　对 48例髓内肿瘤采用显微外科手术。术中取侧卧位或半坐位 ,正中切口 ,尽量做到全切 ,并观察其术后的并发症及处理。结果　本组室管膜瘤、星形细胞瘤、脂肪瘤和血管网状细胞瘤分别占髓内肿瘤的 3 7.5 %、2 9.2 %、2 0 .8%、10 .4% ,其全切率分别为 88.9%、2 8.6%、10 .0 %、60 .0 % ;1例转移瘤全切。术后早期有感觉缺失 ,主要并发症有感染。 48例全部随访 ,平均 3 0 .4个月 ,大部分病人术后 1～ 3个月功能好转或无继续恶化 ,47例存活 ,1例死亡。结论　脊髓髓内肿瘤以良性及低恶性度肿瘤多见 ,手术效果较好 ,应尽早手术     

Bilateral Posterolateral Sulcus Approach for the Removal of Spinal Intramedullary Metastatic Adenocarcinoma: A Technical Case Report

Spinal intramedullary metastasis is an extremely rare event that occurs in advanced cancer. The surgical indications for spinal intramedullary metastasis are highly limited because of surgical difficulty and poor prognosis. In this technical case report, we present a rare case of spinal intramedullary metastasis from the lung that recurred late after local radiation to the spinal cord. The patient progressively experienced relapsed buttock pain and developed gait and urination disorders late after treatment for lung cancer. Imaging examinations suggested the recurrence of spinal intramedullary metastasis in the conus medullaris. Systemic examinations revealed no apparent recurrence in other organs, including the primary lung lesions. Gross total resection of the tumor within the conus medullaris was safely performed using the unilateral posterolateral (PLS) approach and by addition of the contralateral PLS approach. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in which a spinal intramedullary metastatic tumor was successfully removed using a bilateral PLS approach.     

Postoperative prognostic factors in patients with spinal cord tumors]

This study is to analyse the prognostic factors of the patients with spinal cord tumors, consisted of intramedullary tumor (33 patients), multiple extramedullary tumor (15), solitary cauda equina tumor (22), and solitary extramedullary tumor (48). The significant prognosis of intramedullary tumors depends on the histopathological type, the tumor margin, and the extramedullary tumor extension. Multiple extramedullary tumors had a tendency to recur at the different spinal cord levels; poorer long-term clinical results than those with solitary spinal cord tumor. Solitary cauda equina tumor cases showed good clinical course except for the bladder disfunction. Prognostic factors for solitary extramedullary tumors were the preoperative neurological status, the duration of myelopathy prior to surgery, the age at surgery, the tumor size, tumor location along the spinal axis, and the site of tumor in relation to the spinal cord.     

Intramedullary hemangioblastomas: timing of surgery,microsurgical technique and follow-up in 23 patients

Hemangioblastomas are highly vascularised tumors of the central nervous system and account for 1.5–2.5% of all spinal cord tumors. Because of the rarity of these tumors, surgical experience is often limited and, therefore, treatment and indications for timing of surgery are discussed controversial. The authors reviewed their data of 23 consecutive patients with respect to timing of surgery, microsurgical technique, and follow-up. Clinical records of 23 consecutive patients with intramedullary hemangioblastomas who underwent first surgery in our department between 1990 and 2005 were reviewed. In three cases the tumors were localised at the craniocervical junction; four patients had a single tumor in the cervical spine, six patients multiple tumors in the cervical and thoracic spine, eight patients in the thoracic spine only, one patient in the conus region, and one patient had multiple tumors located in the thoracic and lumbar spine. In eight patients, a von-Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) was associated. The neurological follow-up was evaluated according to the classification of McCormick. Operation was recommended to every symptomatic patient as early as possible. In asymptomatic patients with a sporadic tumor surgery was discussed for diagnostic purposes at any time. In VHL patients, surgery was recommended if tumor growth was observed on MRI in the next practicable time. All tumors were diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging and in all cases but one a DSA was performed. All patients were treated microsurgically through a posterior approach. The tumors in the spinal cord were removed microsurgically through a partial hemilaminectomy (n = 1), a hemilaminectomy (n = 15), or laminectomy (n = 4) and at the craniocervical junction (n = 3) through a suboccipital craniotomy. During follow-up after 6 months, 18 patients remained neurologically stable (17 in McCormick grade I and 1 in McCormick grade II) and 5 patients recovered to a better status (3 from grade III to II, 2 from grade II to I). There was one complication with a CSF fistula and one recurrence/incomplete removal. Following the above-mentioned principles of microsurgical removal of intramedullary hemangioblastomas, operation is possible with a low procedure-related morbidity and can be recommended especially in VHL patients with progressive symptoms or tumor growth during follow-up. Patients without VHL most frequently require hemangioblastoma resection for diagnostic purposes and/or because symptoms prompted an imaging work-up that lead to the discovery of the tumor.     

经后路一期全脊椎切除治疗胸椎肿瘤

目的 探讨后正中入路行上胸椎肿瘤全脊椎切除的可行性及疗效.方法 采用后正中入路行上胸椎肿瘤切除,环脊髓减压,植骨融合内固定重建脊柱稳定性.结果 无术中死亡及脊髓医源性损伤等并发症.随访8～18个月,1例转移肿瘤患者术后6个月颅内转移于10个月后死亡,余未见肿瘤复发.脊髓功能恢复情况:术后6个月,A级2例恢复至E级1例、D级1例;B级1例恢复至D级;C级2例均恢复至E级.所有患者术后局部疼痛症状均明显缓解.复查X 线片未发现脊柱失稳现象,内固定材料无断裂.结论 经上胸椎后正中入路切除上胸椎肿瘤,创伤相对较小,手术视野显露清楚,内固定容易操作,肿瘤切除彻底,并发症少,是一种切除上胸椎肿瘤理想的手术方法.     

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis of ovarian tumor

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVES: To report a case of a thoracic intramedullary spinal cord metastasis of ovarian tumor in a 59-year-old woman. SETTING: Shiga, Japan. CASE REPORT: A case of a thoracic intramedullary spinal cord metastasis of ovarian tumor in a 59-year-old woman is reported. She received abdominal ovariectomy for the ovarian adenocarcinoma 4 years before she suffered from back pain and showed neurological symptoms. The thoracic intramedullary lesion was confirmed by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. She showed complete paralysis before operation. The excision of the tumor was achieved through the posterior approach. Histologically, the diagnosis of metastasis of adenocarcinoma was made. CONCLUSION: Although she did not show any postoperative neurologic recovery, her general condition was good and there was no evidence of recurrence 24 months after surgery.     

Intramedullary ependymoma of the spinal cord

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.     

Nonenhancing tumors of the spinal cord

OBJECT: Enhancement of pathological entities in the central nervous system is a common finding when the blood-brain barrier has been compromised. In the brain, the presence or absence of gadolinium enhancement is often an indicator of tumor invasiveness and/or grade. In the spinal cord, however, contrast enhancement has been shown in all tumor types, regardless of grade. In this study the authors explore the incidence of nonenhancing tumors of the spinal cord and the clinical course of patients with these lesions. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in which investigators examined the patterns of enhancement of histologically proven intramedullary spinal cord tumors that had been evaluated at the Mayo Clinic between 1998 and 2002. The tumors that did not enhance were the subject of this report. RESULTS: A total of 130 patients with intramedullary tumors were evaluated. Of those, 11 patients (9%) had tumors that did not enhance. Histologically, a majority of tumors were astrocytomas (eight low-grade and two high-grade lesions); one tumor was a subependymoma. Morphologically, most of the tumors were diffuse and none had associated cysts. Tumors spanned from two to seven levels and were located throughout the spinal cord (four cervical, three cervicothoracic, one thoracic, and three thoracolumbar). Biopsy procedures were performed in eight patients, subtotal resection was performed in two, and gross-total resection in one. After a mean follow-up period of 19 months, tumors remained stable in eight patients but progressed in three, two of whom died. CONCLUSIONS: A number of intramedullary spinal cord tumors will not enhance after addition of contrast agents. The absence of enhancement does not imply the absence of tumor.     

经椎间孔入路治疗腰椎侧隐窝狭窄症的疗效

目的探讨经皮内镜下椎间孔入路治疗腰椎侧隐窝狭窄症的临床疗效。方法对32例腰椎侧隐窝狭窄伴或不伴腰椎间盘突出患者采用经皮内镜下椎间孔入路行侧隐窝减压伴或不伴髓核摘除手术。术后1、3个月采用VAS评分评估患者腰腿痛改善情况,术后6个月采用改良MacNab评分标准评估疗效。结果32例患者均顺利完成手术,随访6个月。VAS评分术前为8~10(9.18±0.71)分,术后1个月为0~3(1.29±0.67)分,术后3个月为0~2(1.51±0.49)分,术后1、3个月与术前比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。术后6个月改良MacNab评分优良率为93.75%(30/32)。无感染、医源性神经根损伤、硬膜撕裂等并发症发生。结论经皮内镜下椎间孔入路治疗腰椎侧隐窝狭窄症能获得满意疗效。     

Non-dysraphic intramedullary spinal cord lipoma

True intramedullary spinal cord lipomas are extremely rare. Two cases of intramedullary spinal cord lipoma are presented. The patients did not exhibit any form of spinal dysraphism. The patients presented with gait difficulty, upper limb weakness, sphincter disturbance, dysesthesias and neck pain. The tumors were removed sub-totally and the neurological grade improved postoperatively in one of the patients.     

Surgical treatment of intramedullary spinal cord tumors: prognosis and complications

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate our recent treatment strategy for intramedullary spinal cord tumors. SETTING: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University, Japan. METHODS: We reviewed 68 cases of intramedullary tumors (ependymoma, 33; astrocytoma, 23; hemangioblastoma, 12), treated surgically between 1994 and 2003. There were 42 males and 26 females whose mean age at the time of surgery was 43 years. The mean follow-up period was 6.2 years. The tumor malignancy grade according to the WHO classification was astrocytoma grade I, 3; grade II, 8 (low-grade: 11 cases); grade III, 10; grade IV, 2 (high-grade: 12 cases). All ependymomas were grade II. Three of the 12 hemangioblastomas were associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease. RESULTS: Total excision was achieved in 90% of the ependymomas and functional improvement was obtained when the preoperative neurological deficit was mild. Approximately 50% of low-grade astrocytomas could be totally excised with favorable survival outcomes, suggesting that total excision should be attempted for low-grade astrocytomas. However, total excision of high-grade tumors was difficult and the functional outcomes were poor. Cordotomy should be considered in patients with a thoracic high-grade astrocytoma. Total resection was possible in 92% of hemangioblastoma, and the functional outcomes were good, however, more attention should be paid for tumors with feeding arteries on the ventral side and for those associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease. CONCLUSIONS: Predictors of good surgical outcome for intramedullary spinal cord tumors were histological grades of the tumors, surgical margins, and neurological status of the patient before surgery.     

Surgical treatment of intramedullary tumors (spinal cord and medulla oblongata). Analysis of 16 cases

From February 1987 to July 1988, 16 patients of our clinic with intramedullary tumors (seven astrocytomas, six ependymomas, two angiomas with intramedullary hematomyelia, and one angioblastoma of the medulla oblongata) underwent surgery. Radical excision was possible in six cases with tumors in the cervical and/or thoracic region as well as in two cases with tumors in the medulla oblongata. In the group of patients with cervical and/or thoracic tumors, seven showed improvement, up to complete remission of the neurological symptoms. From eight patients with tumors of the medulla oblongata, one patient showed an invasive tumor of the medulla oblongata and pons with corresponding extensive neurological deficits, and died six weeks after surgery. The neurologic symptoms of the other seven patients improved after a postoperative interval of at least six weeks.The surgical approach to tumors of the medulla oblongata or spinal cord was performed by midline incision. Occasionally, a dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) incision was used when the tumor showed strictly unilateral localization. Tumors of the rhomboid fossa were approached by a lateral incision to avoid damage to nuclear structures. The more rostral the tumor localization (medulla oblongata, pons), the less complete was the surgery: only one ependymoma of the medulla oblongata was accessible to total extirpation. The tumor dignity worsened with ascending level of tumor localization. As described generally in the literature, neurological deficits of those patients with tumors in the medulla oblongata increased in the first few postoperative weeks before they began to improve.Chemotherapy, radiation therapy or decompressive laminectomy by themselves only lead to an improvement and are, therefore, not recommended.     

脊髓髓内肿瘤的显微手术治疗

目的:评估脊髓髓内肿瘤的手术疗效,了解影响预后的因素。方法:回顾分析42例显微手术治疗的髓内肿瘤患者的临床资料,颈髓28例,颈胸交界6例,胸髓5例,圆锥3例。结果:肿瘤全切30例,次全切8例,部分切除4例。无手术死亡。随访3~36个月,病情较术前改善者24例,稳定者13例,加重5例。术前神经功能障碍严重的患者,术后恢复差。3例星形细胞瘤患者术后8~16个月内死亡。结论:脊髓髓内肿瘤在显微镜下大多可手术全切或次全切,并保留正常的脊髓功能,改善或稳定病情。手术应在神经功能加重前进行。恶性胶质瘤的手术效果及预后仍不满意。     

Radical resection of intramedullary spinal cord tumors in adults. Recent experience in 29 patients

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 9 1/2 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 metastasis associated with hemorrhage: a case report

A rare case of intramedullary spinal cord metastasis associated with hemorrhage was reported. A 74-year-old man had a subacute onset of paraparesis. He became almost paraplegic within a few days. MRI revealed an intramedullary spinal lesion in the epiconus at the Th 11 and Th 12 level, but spinal angiography did not show any abnormality. Since repeated MRI showed enlargement of the lesion, surgery was performed under the diagnosis of an intramedullary spinal cord tumor. Under general anesthesia, a midline myelotomy of about 3 cm was performed and a grayish, elastic and circumscribed tumor as well as a liquefied hematoma in the caudal part was observed. Both the tumor and the hematoma were removed almost totally. The patient's paraparesis improved slightly after surgery. The histological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma. The primary source was unknown, but multiple small metastatic tumors were found in the lung, liver and brain, etc. Hemorrhage from intramedullary spinal cord metastasis is extremely rare with only 6 reported cases in the recent literature. Rapid deterioration of symptoms caused by the hematoma may make the diagnosis more difficult. Indication of surgical treatment should be carefully determined because prognosis of intramedullary spinal cord metastasis is generally very poor.     

Use of the ophthalmic phacoemulsification instrument for tumors of the spinal cord: report of seven cases

In this retrospective cohort study, we examined the safety, efficacy, and benefits of utilizing the readily available ophthalmic phacoemulsification instrument for the surgery of seven intramedullary spinal cord tumors. Historically, the conventional neurosurgical ultrasonic aspirator was an adaptation of the original Cavitron Phaco-Emulsifier aspirator used in cataract surgery. The ophthalmic instrument has a 1.0-mm internal diameter operating tip. This is much smaller and provides improved visualization and surgical control when compared with the conventional neurosurgical instrument, which has a tip diameter of 3-4 mm. A satisfactory surgical and clinical outcome was achieved in all seven patients with safe and substantial subtotal excision of their tumors. We found the ophthalmic instrument provided excellent visualization and precision in operating on cases of intramedullary spinal cord tumor.     

Intra-operative spinal sonography in spinal intramedullary tumor

Recently, operative results of intramedullary spinal cord tumors have been greatly improved since the introduction of microsurgery. It is very important to know the precise size and location of the tumor prior to the operation so that we can approach the tumor with a minimum of damage to the spinal cord. However, it is not always possible to demonstrate the precise localization of the tumor preoperatively. In this report, we emphasize that intraoperative spinal sonography is very useful in determining the extent of the tumor and differentiating solid component from cystic component of the tumor. Methods and Materials We performed intraoperative spinal sonography on ten patients with intramedullary spinal cord tumor. This series included three cases of hemangioblastoma, three cases of astrocytoma, two cases of ependymoma, one case of subependymoma, and one case of mixed glioma. Eight out of ten cases were associated with cysts. The intraoperative spinal sonographic examinations were performed after laminectomy. The linear scanning probe of 5 or 7.5 MHz transducer was used. Results 1) Solid components The acoustic pattern of the solid tumor was either hyperechoic or iso-echoic. Six cases (three hemangioblastomas, two ependymomas, and one astrocytoma) were hyperechoic. Other four cases (two astrocytomas, one subependymoma, and one mixed glioma) were iso-echoic. 2) Cystic components The cysts associated with the tumor were anechoic in six out of eight cases, which were confirmed at surgery, and multiple cysts were identified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Intramedullary astrocytoma with granular cell differentiation

Granular cell astrocytomas are uncommon tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) of which no cases have been documented in the spinal cord. This variant of glioma should not be confused with benign granular cell tumor which, although rare, has been well characterized in the spinal cord. We describe here the clinical, pathological, and radiological features of such an astrocytoma arising within the spinal cord at the dorsal level. A 48-year-old female was seen after about 1 year of dorsal pain and gradual spastic paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies showed a 2-cm contrast-enhanced mass in the spinal cord at T6-T7, which had the appearance of an astrocytoma. At surgery, the tumor was found to be infiltrating a posterior column with no dural attachment. It was debulked and dissected. The histological diagnosis was astrocytoma with granular cell differentiation. In addition to documenting a unique example of intramedullary granular cell astrocytoma, we review the literature to investigate differences from other tumors with granular changes described in the spinal cord.