Calcifying epithelial odontogenic (Pindborg) tumor with malignant transformation and metastatic spread.

BACKGROUND: Pindborg tumors (calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumors) are uncommon neoplasms of odontogenic origin most often located in the posterior mandible. First described in detail in 1955 by Pindborg, these tumors are considered benign but can be locally aggressive in nature, with recurrence rates of 10% to 15% reported. The malignant form of this tumor is exceedingly rare. METHODS: We describe the case of a 64-year-old woman initially treated for a painful infected left mandibular third molar. The patient underwent extraction of the tooth and excision of an associated soft tissue component. Subsequent histologic review identified a Pindborg tumor of the left posterior mandible. RESULTS: After initial excision, this tumor recurred twice, with the recurrences exhibiting a progression to a malignant Pindborg tumor (odontogenic carcinoma) with vascular invasion and spread to a cervical lymph node. Further treatment involved radical surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. At last review 12 months after treatment, the patient was disease free. CONCLUSIONS: This article describes only the second case of odontogenic carcinoma. The transformation from benign to malignant histologic findings has not previously been documented in this tumor. The salient clinical features of this case are presented along with supportive pathologic and radiologic evidence.     

Spinal teratoma: is there a place for adjuvant treatment? Two cases and a review of the literature

Spinal teratomas are rare intradural spinal tumours, commonly of benign histological profile. The main treatment remains surgical excision which often is incomplete as the tumour is frequently intimately related to surrounding nerve roots and adjacent spinal cord. The value of adjuvant treatment in the form of radiotherapy has not been clearly identified. We report two patients with spinal teratomas in the lower thoracic and conus region, who were treated with surgical excision and did not receive radiotherapy. One of the tumours recurred at 38 months following surgical excision and required a second operation. We review in addition another 20 patients reported in the literature with such tumours. With a mean follow-up of 25 months a local recurrence rate of 10% was observed, the same in both total and subtotal excision groups. No deaths were reported. Analysis of cumulative survival from surgery to treatment failure demonstrated that recurrence occurs late, verifying a slow biological progression of this tumour type. Although no reliable information of the effect of radiotherapy can be obtained, it is difficult to see how radiotherapy could have an impact on such a slow growing tumour. Initial treatment of choice remains surgical excision. If the teratoma shows any malignant histological features or germ cell elements radiotherapy should be employed after surgical excision, even if apparently totally excised. In the presence of benign histology it would seem appropriate to avoid radiotherapy after initial surgery. In case of tumour recurrence or progression to explore the possibility of further surgery first, before considering radiotherapy which even then may have doubtful efficacy.     

Huge epidermoid cyst of the spermatic cord in an adult patient

Tumors arising in the spermatic cord are uncommon and form a heterogeneous group of neoplasms. A variety of both benign and malignant lesions have been demonstrated. Benign tumors represent 80% of the total, but unfortunately clinical and sonographic features are not specific and they cannot safely differentiate a teratomatous or a malignant neoplasm from benign tumors. We report a case of a huge epidermoid cyst of the spermatic cord in an adult patient confirmed after local excision. The etiology, differential diagnosis, and management alternatives are discussed.     

Ectopic low-grade adrenocortical carcinoma in the spinal region: immunohistochemical and molecular cytogenetic study of a pediatric case

Ectopic adrenocortical neoplasms arising in the nervous system are very rare. We encountered an intradural, extramedullary case of an adrenocortical neoplasm of indeterminate malignant potential affecting a spinal nerve root in the distal lumbar region of a 5-month-old girl. The lesion recurred 6 months after the initial gross total resection. The tumor in both resections had increased mitotic activity (5/10 high power fields) and MIB-1 labeling indices of 23% and 33% at initial resection and recurrence, respectively. Both tumors demonstrated gains of chromosomes 5 and 12 by interphase cytogenetics, whereas insulin growth factor 2 was identified in the recurrent tumor by immunohistochemistry. This report demonstrates that ectopic adrenocortical tumors in the nervous system may exhibit clinicopathologic and cytogenetic features suggestive of adrenocortical carcinoma.     

Long-term Outcome following Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for Large Solid Adrenal Cortex Tumors

Introduction Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) is the procedure of choice for small benign adrenal tumors. In the absence of local invasion or metastases, the preoperative diagnosis of an adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is difficult, often leaving size as the principal predictor of malignancy. Large tumors are resectable laparoscopically, but the long-term outcome and therefore appropriateness of LA for cortical tumors > 6 cm is not known. Methods We reviewed the LA experience in our institution since its introduction in June 1994. Patients who underwent LA for solid cortical tumors ≥ 60 mm in diameter without preoperative or intraoperative evidence of malignancy were reviewed. Follow-up data, including clinical examination, biochemical analysis, and repeat scans, were reviewed for evidence of local or systemic recurrent disease. Results Between 1994 and 2004 a total of 462 adrenalectomies were performed, 391 of which were done laparoscopically. Among them, 19 were solid cortical tumors ≥ 60 mm in diameter with no overt malignant preoperative or intraoperative characteristics: 9 nonsecreting tumors, 8 Cushing’s syndrome tumors (including 2 virilizing variants), 1 virilizing tumor, and 1 aldosteronoma. The mean age of the patients was 49.9 years (range 22–77 years), and the mean tumor size was 69.0 mm (range 60–80 mm). Histology confirmed a cortical adenoma in eight patients, malignant tumors in three, and indeterminate tumors in eight. The mean follow-up was 34 months (range 4–108 months). Two patients died of systemic recurrent disease (liver metastases) at 10 and 19 months, respectively, following surgery; two other patients died 12 and 21 months, respectively following surgery owing to unrelated cardiovascular and cerebrovascular pathology. One patient underwent surgery for local recurrence 54 months after primary surgery; the remaining 14 patients are well with no clinical or radiologic evidence of recurrent disease. Conclusions Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large solid cortical tumors without pre- or intraoperative evidence of malignancy is not contraindicated, and it is unlikely to have a deleterious effect on long-term outcome. Each case should be considered individually. We provide an algorithm for the approach to adrenocortical tumors ≥ 6 cm.     

A Prospective, Multi-Institutional Study of Adjuvant Radiotherapy After Resection of Malignant Phyllodes Tumors

Background  Malignant phyllodes tumors of the breast are unusual neoplasms, with an incidence of approximately 500 cases annually in the United States. Published local recurrence rates after margin-negative breast-conserving resections of borderline malignant and malignant phyllodes tumors are unacceptably high, at 24 and 20%, respectively. It is uncertain whether radiotherapy after resection of phyllodes tumors is beneficial. Methods  We prospectively enrolled patients who were treated with a margin-negative breast-conserving resection of borderline malignant or malignant phyllodes tumors to adjuvant radiotherapy. The primary endpoint was local recurrence. Results  Forty-six women were treated at 30 different institutions. The mean patient age was 49 years (range, 18–76 years). Thirty patients (65%) had malignant phyllodes tumors; the rest were borderline malignant. The mean tumor diameter was 3.7 cm (range, .8–11 cm). Eighteen patients had a negative margin on the first excision. The median size of the negative margin was .35 cm (range, <.1–2 cm). Twenty-eight patients underwent a re-excision because of positive margins in the initial resection. Two patients died of metastatic phyllodes tumor. During a median follow-up of 56 months (range, 12–129 months), none of the 46 patients developed a local recurrence (local recurrence rate, 0%; 95% confidence interval, 0–8). Conclusions  Margin-negative resection combined with adjuvant radiotherapy is very effective therapy for local control of borderline and malignant phyllodes tumors. The local recurrence rate with adjuvant radiotherapy was significantly less than that observed in reported patients treated with margin-negative resection alone.     

肾上腺性性征异常的诊断与治疗

目的探讨肾上腺性性征异常的诊断、鉴别诊断和治疗,特别是分泌性激素的肾上腺肿瘤的良恶性鉴别诊断和各种先天性肾上腺增生疾病的治疗原则。方法报告１９８６年～１９９６年８例先天性肾上腺皮质增生和５例分泌性激素的肾上腺肿瘤的诊治经验。结果先天性肾上腺皮质增生中有３例１７α羟化酶缺乏症,肿瘤患者包括２例女性男性化、３例男性女性化肾上腺肿瘤。分泌性激素肾上腺肿瘤均经手术切除。结论分泌性激素的肾上腺皮质肿瘤的重量、直径、ＤＨＥＡ、尿１７酮和血性激素水平、ＣＴ表现和肿瘤的浸润及转移可作为判断肿瘤良恶性的参考指标。对大体积肾上腺肿瘤首选改良肋缘下切口。先天性肾上腺皮质增生应根据疾病类型而选用不同皮质激素进行治疗,对于１７α羟化酶缺乏的病例,儿童期至青春期不宜应用性激素治疗。     

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??Analysis of clinical and pathological features of asymptomatic cystic neoplasms of pancreas DAI Meng-hua*, XU Tao, ZHANG Tai-ping et al. *Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences , Beijing 100730, China
Corresponding author: ZHAO Yu-pei, E-mail: zhao8028@263.net
Abstract Objective To analyze and study clinical and pathological features of incidental cystic neoplasms of pancreas. Methods The clinical data of 126 cases of pancreatic resection performed for cystic neoplasms between January 1984 and June 2008 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were evaluated retrospectively. Results Among 126 cases of cystic neoplasms of pancreas, 60 cases were asymptomatic including 56 cases of benign and 4 cases of malignant. The benign cases included 28 cases of serous cystic neoplasms, 25 cases of mucinous cystic neoplasms and 3 cases of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. The malignant cases inclued 3 cases of mucinous cystic adenocarcinoma and 1 case of invasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that gender, tumor size and radiological features(solid component and main duct dilation) were significant different between benign and malignant cystic neoplasm of pancreas. Gender was a predictor of malignant pathology, with male cases having a higher incidence of malignancy (3/11, 27.3%) compared with female cases (1/44, 2.27%; P=0.001). The presence of radiographic features (solid component and main pancreatic duct dilation) was associated with malignancy of cystic neoplasms. Tumor size less than 3cm in diameter was more common in benign, asymptomatic cystic neoplasms of pancreas. Conclusion Among asymptomatic cystic neoplasms of pancreas, the incidence of malignant cases is lower. The study suggests that if tumor size in asymptomatic cases is less than 3cm in diameter without malignant radiographic features (solid component and main pancreatic duct dilation) observation and regular folllow-up can be selected.     

Pathologic examination accurately predicts prognosis in mucinous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas.

The behavior of pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms has long been debated. Some authors contend that histologically benign neoplasms can recur and metastasize. We reviewed the gross and microscopic findings and outcomes of 61 mucinous cystic neoplasms diagnosed at The Johns Hopkins Hospital from March 20, 1984 to July 8, 1998. Each neoplasm was placed into one of four categories based on complete histologic examination: invasive mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, mucinous cystic neoplasm with in situ carcinoma, borderline mucinous cystic neoplasm, and mucinous cystadenoma. Neoplasms in the latter three categories were included only if they were entirely resected and completely examined. Patient outcomes were obtained from hospital records and patient and physician follow-up. Twenty (33%) of the patients had invasive mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, and they had 2- and 5-year disease-specific survival rates of 67% and 33% (mean follow-up of survivors, 4.2 years), respectively. Nine (15%) patients had mucinous cystic neoplasms with in situ carcinoma (mean follow-up of survivors, 4.1 years). Five (8.2%) patients had borderline mucinous cystic neoplasms (mean follow-up of survivors, 5.6 years). Twenty-seven (44%) patients had mucinous cystadenomas (mean follow-up of survivors, 5.1 years). No mucinous cystadenoma, borderline mucinous cystic neoplasm, or mucinous cystic neoplasm with in situ carcinoma recurred or metastasized. No patient with the diagnosis of mucinous cystadenoma, borderline mucinous cystic neoplasm, or mucinous cystic neoplasm with in situ carcinoma died of disease. The difference in disease-specific survival rates between patients with invasive mucinous cystadenocarcinomas and those with noninvasive tumors was significant (p < 0.0001, log-rank test). One case, originally showing only benign histology on incisional biopsy, contained foci of invasive carcinoma on complete resection. Completely resected and entirely examined mucinous cystadenomas, borderline mucinous cystic neoplasms, and mucinous cystic neoplasms with in situ carcinoma follow benign courses. Because invasive carcinoma can be focal, failure to study an entire mucinous cystic neoplasm may result in the miscategorization of a malignant neoplasm as benign.     

A Case of Porocarcinoma From Pre-existing Hidroacanthoma Simplex: Need of Early Excision for Hidroacanthoma Simplex?

BACKGROUND: Hidroacanthoma simplex (HAS) is an uncommon eccrine neoplasm of the skin. It is a benign neoplasm, but some cases of malignant change were reported in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To describe a rare case of porocarcinoma in a relatively short period from pre-existing HAS on the abdomen. METHODS: Wide local excision was performed on this neoplasm. RESULTS: There was no recurrence for 72 months after wide excision. CONCLUSION. : We recommend an early excision and careful attention in the case of HAS because of its potential malignant change.     

Trichoblastoma: management of a rare skin lesion

A 15-year-old girl presented with a 2-year history of an enlarging parietal scalp lesion. Excisional biopsy revealed trichoblastoma, a benign secondary tumor arising from a nevus sebaceous. There is no consensus in the literature about the surgical management of nevus sebaceous in children owing to the low incidence of secondary malignancy. There is a 20% lifetime risk of transformation to a soft tissue neoplasm, most of which are benign; but malignant neoplasms have also been reported. At minimum, these lesions need to be followed clinically over the patient's lifetime if left in situ. Recurrence after excision is rare.     

Intrinsic brain-stem tumors of childhood: surgical indications

This report summarizes the first author's experience with radical excision of intrinsic non-exophytic brain-stem gliomas in 34 pediatric patients. On retrospective analysis, these tumors may be classified into three subgroups: focal, diffuse, and cervicomedullary. A focal neoplasm is a circumscribed mass less than 2 cm in diameter and without associated edema. Tumors of a larger size or in which the "focal" neoplasm is associated with a large area of apparent edema are classified as diffuse. Cervicomedullary neoplasms occur at the junction of the medulla and spinal cord and involve both of the structures but do not extend rostrally into the pons. A radical tumor excision was carried out in all patients, and the only mortality and morbidity occurred in children harboring diffuse gliomas. All of the diffuse gliomas were malignant (grade III or IV astrocytomas), whereas three of the four focal astrocytomas and all of the cervicomedullary tumors were grade II astrocytomas. No patient with a diffuse astrocytoma was benefitted by surgery, while two of the focal astrocytomas and all of the cervicomedullary neoplasms either became stable or improved postoperatively. It is concluded that, although surgery may be accomplished within the substance of the brain stem with low morbidity and mortality rates, it is not indicated for malignant astrocytomas as it has no impact on the biology of the neoplasm. Therefore, while primary radical excision is recommended for cervicomedullary neoplasms, which are often benign, the more traditional radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy remain appropriate for tumors above the medulla.     

Systematic review of anorectal leiomyosarcoma: Current challenges and recent advances

BACKGROUND The anorectal leiomyosarcoma(LMS) is an aggressive malignant neoplasm.Owing to the rarity of LMSs, an optimal treatment modality has yet to be determined.AIM To collect all published data on anorectal LMS characteristics, explore current treatment options, and review recent cases of postradiation LMS.METHODS A literature search of the Pub Med electronic database was conducted using the Me SH terms "rectal neoplasms", "anus neoplasms" and "gastrointestinal neoplasms" combined with "leiomyosarcoma". The search was limited to English language and human studies. All available case reports and case series of anal or rectal LMSs that were published from the beginning of January 1996 to May 2017 were included if the diagnosis of LMS had been confirmed by histopathologic examination. Data were analyzed using simple statistics(mean, median, and standard deviation). Independent sample t-test was used to compare means for continuous variables.RESULTS A total of 27 articles reporting on 51 cases of anorectal LMS were identified.Among these cases, 11.7% had undergone previous pelvic radiotherapy(developing LMS at 13-35 years afterwards). Anorectal LMS affected the rectum in 92.2% of the cases, and no sex-based predominance was observed. Surgical resection with negative margins remains the mainstay of treatment, which can be accomplished with wide local excision or radical resection. The local recurrence rate was higher among cases who received wide local excision(30%), as compared to radical resection(20%); however, the overall rate of metastasis was 51.61% regardless of the treatment approach. The use of neoadjuvant radiation lowers the risk of local recurrence compared to adjuvant radiotherapy, and facilitates R0 resection of the tumor. Cases treated with adjuvant chemotherapy showed better rates of distant recurrence and overall survival. Nonetheless,multidisciplinary team discussion is necessary to determine the optimal management plan whilst considering patient-and disease-related factors.CONCLUSION A multidisciplinary team approach, considering the underlying patient-and disease-related factors, is necessary for optimal management of these complex tumors.     

Does Nodal Metastasis and Perineural Invasion Affect Local Control in Hyalinizing Clear Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity? A Case Report with Long Term Follow-Up

Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (HCCC) is a rare, low-grade neoplasm accounting for approximately 1% of salivary gland neoplasms. Histologically, it is characterized by a monomorphous population of clear cells arranged in sheets, nests, or cords, lacking ductal structures. Until recently, clear cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (OC) represented a diagnosis of exclusion when other head and neck pathologic entities such as epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma or mucoepidermoid carcinoma could be ruled out, making definitive diagnosis by light microscopy and immunoprofiling a challenge. As a result, initial biopsies are often misclassified, and could result in under- or overtreatment. More recently, the presence of the EWSR1-ATF1 gene fusion has been adopted to definitively diagnose HCCC. Typically, HCCC demonstrates clinical indolence and responds well to curative surgical excision alone for localized disease, with adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) reserved for high risk features including perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and regional cervical metastasis. The literature, however, lacks consensus regarding the role of adjuvant radiotherapy. In this article, we report a case of HCCC in a rare site involving the ventral tongue, with high risk features of perineural invasion and cervical nodal metastasis. The patient underwent surgical excision alone; declining adjuvant radiotherapy despite the high risk features, and was alive with no evidence of disease at the 42-month mark. Furthermore, we provide an update on the current prognostic indicators for HCCC, and emphasize the need for chromosomal analysis to achieve a definitive diagnosis.     

Mesenchymal Neoplasms of Salivary Glands: A Clinicopathologic Study of 68 Cases

Salivary gland neoplasms are uncommon, and most exhibit epithelial differentiation. Mesenchymal neoplasms of the salivary gland are rare, and the incidence ranges from 1.9% to 5%. The aim of this study is to identify the types and clinical-pathological features of mesenchymal salivary neoplasm and review their differential diagnosis. A retrospective search for mesenchymal neoplasms of salivary glands from our institution''s pathology archives from the 2004–2021 period and consultation files of one of the authors (AER) was performed. The clinical data were obtained from available medical records, and the histological slides and ancillary studies were retrieved and reviewed. We identified a total of 68 cases that form the study cohort. Thirty-five patients were male, and thirty-three patients were female, with a mean age of 48 years (range, 7 months–79 years), and the male to female ratio was 1:.94. Sixty-three (92.6%) of sixty-eight tumors were benign and included: 38 (56%) lipomas, 9 (13%) hemangiomas, 7 (10.3%) schwannomas, 3 (4.4%) neurofibromas, 3 (4.4%) lymphangioma, 2 (3%) solitary fibrous tumors, 1 (1.5%) myofibroma. Five of sixty-eight (7.4%) were malignant and included: 3 (4.4%) Adamantinoma-like Ewing sarcomas, 1 (1.5%) malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), and 1 (1.5%) malignant solitary fibrous tumor. The involved sites included: parotid (55), submandibular gland (5), parapharyngeal space (5), buccal mucosa minor salivary gland (2), and sublingual gland (1). Sixty-seven patients underwent surgical resection. One patient with lymphangioma manifested a recurrence/persistence a week post-surgery. One patient with a parotid hemangioma developed post-operative numbness, and another patient developed chronic postauricular pain after surgery. Two patients with MPNST and one patient with adamantinoma-like Ewing sarcoma underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation and were disease-free after treatment. The remaining 37 patients with available follow-up ranging from 7 days to 96 months (mean, 18 months) had a favorable outcome and were disease-free after treatment. Mesenchymal neoplasms of salivary gland are rare; most are benign and demonstrate adipocytic, endothelial, and schwannian differentiation; awareness of their development is important for adequate diagnosis. The mainstay of treatment is surgical excision, with the extent determined by tumor type. Adjuvant therapy is reserved for high-grade sarcomas and may be given in a neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting.     

腹腔镜、结肠镜联合治疗结直肠良恶性肿瘤的应用体会(附21例报告)

目的:探讨腹腔镜、纤维结肠镜联合治疗结直肠良恶性肿瘤的应用价值.方法:回顾分析为21例结直肠良恶性肿瘤患者应用多种双镜联合治疗方法的临床资料.结果:手术均顺利完成,无一例中转开腹.其中内镜辅助腹腔镜治疗12例,腹腔镜辅助内镜治疗4例,内镜腹腔镜同步切除2例,腹腔镜追加根治术3例.术后无吻合口漏、吻合口出血等并发症发生....     

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA aneuploidy in adrenal tumors]

Nuclear DNA content of paraffin-embedded tissue from 38 adrenal neoplasms and 9 histologically normal adrenal glands was analyzed using flow cytometry. Histological diagnosis of thirty-eight adrenal neoplasms were 3 adrenocortical carcinomas, 20 adrenocortical adenomas and 15 pheochromocytomas. In 33 cases (87%) of the 38 tumors the determination of DNA ploidy was possible. All 9 control specimens showed DNA diploid pattern in DNA histogram. In adrenocortical neoplasms the incidence of DNA aneuploidy was 0% (0 of 17) in adenomas and 100% (2 of 2) in carcinomas. All 17 adrenocortical adenomas which showed DNA diploid pattern are clinically benign. On the other hand, both 2 cases of adrenocortical carcinoma which showed DNA aneuploidy died within 1 year. These data suggest that DNA aneuploidy may be useful as a prognostic factor in adrenocortical neoplasm. With regard to pheochromocytoma, DNA aneuploidy was detected in 4 of 14 patients (29%). However, all 14 cases were clinically benign. In pheochromocytoma DNA aneuploidy was not found to be correlated with prognosis.     

Radiosurgery for the treatment of recurrent central neurocytomas

OBJECTIVE: Central neurocytomas are benign neoplasms with neuronal differentiation typically located in the lateral ventricles of young adults. Although the treatment of choice is complete surgical excision, patients may experience local recurrence. Adjuvant therapy for patients with residual or recurrent tumor has included reoperation, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. To avoid the side effects of conventional radiotherapy in young patients, we present a series of patients with clear evidence of tumor progression who were treated with gamma knife radiosurgery. METHODS: Four patients (ages 20-49 yr; mean, 28 yr) who presented with an intraventricular mass on magnetic resonance imaging scans and underwent craniotomy for tumor resection were reviewed retrospectively. Histopathological analysis confirmed central neurocytoma in all cases. Each patient was followed up clinically and radiographically with serial magnetic resonance imaging. When radiographic signs of tumor progression were evident, patients were treated with radiosurgery. RESULTS: Complete radiographic tumor resection was achieved in all patients. There were no major postoperative complications. Local tumor progression was detected on magnetic resonance imaging scans 9 to 25 months after surgery (median, 17.5 mo). All patients achieved complete response to radiosurgery with reduction in tumor size. There have been no complications from radiosurgery. Follow-up ranged from 12 to 28 months (mean, 16.5 mo) after radiosurgery, and from 24 to 84 months (mean, 54.5 mo) after initial presentation. CONCLUSION: Radiosurgery with the gamma knife unit provides safe and effective adjuvant therapy after surgical resection of central neurocytomas. Radiosurgery may eliminate the need for reoperation and avoid the possible long-term side effects from conventional radiotherapy in young patients.     

The results of surgical treatment of primary spinal tumors

A series of 72 primary spinal tumors including 57 malignant and 15 benign ones were treated surgically from the years 1961 to 1987. Neurologic complications developed in 52 patients, with paraplegia in 20, spastic paraparesis in 19, cauda damage in 11, and brachial plexus injury in two cases. The principles of the treatment were excision of the tumor, decompression of nervous elements, and stabilization of the spine. Surgical treatment was supplemented with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, or both. In the group of benign tumors, no deaths occurred and the clinical results were good. The results obtained in the group of malignant neoplasms were evaluated according to survival time and were analyzed separately for the dying and the surviving patients. In this group of 57 patients, 42 died, 17 dying within one year (three died from postoperative complications). In the remaining 25 patients surviving over one year, the mean survival time was four years and four months. Fifteen patients are alive, and their mean survival is five years and three months. The neurologic results in 39 patients surviving over six months were good in 92.3% of cases. Regression, or significant improvement of neurologic disturbances, was of considerable importance for the survival time. At the present time, surgical treatment combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the most favorable method for the treatment of primary spinal tumors.