Cavernous Haemangiomas of the Spinal Cord. A Review of 117 Cases

 The data of 48 studies (published between 1903 and 1996), presenting information of all together 107 patients (108 lesions) regarding pre-treatment clinical and radiological factors, treatment strategies, and the outcome, plus our own experience of nine patients were retrospectively re-analyzed. The prognostic influence of pre-treatment factors was estimated with the chi-square statistics. Clinical evaluation before/after treatment was performed using the Frankel scale. The average bleeding rate was obtained from the ratio of percentage of first bleeding events in the population to the mean age of the population.  There were 47 males and 69 females (aged from twelve to 88 years). Thirty nine percent of the lesions were found in the cervical, 54% in the thoracic (30% upper, 24% lower) and 7% in the lumbar cord. The peak age of presentation was in the fourth decade, the median duration of symptoms was 32 months. Clinical symptoms before treatment were progressive in all cases. Three patterns of clinical presentation could be identified: a) episodes of stepwise clinical deterioration (30%), b) slow progression of neurological decline (41%), c) acute onset with rapid or gradual decline over weeks or months (26%). 58% of the lesions showed clinical or radiological signs of haemorrhage. In 66% of surgical patients (91 efficiently documented cases), clinical improvement was achieved, 28% remained unchanged and 6% deteriorated. Whereas age, sex and lesion location had no influence on the results, duration of symptoms (<three years) correlated significantly to a better outcome (p<0.02).  Surgical management in symptomatic patients is recommended. Once clinical signs caused by the malformation have appeared, the patients tend to experience progressive neurological deterioration.     

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

Summary Of the 62 patients with intramedullary spinal cord ependymoma treated surgically at our Neurosurgery Division between January 1951 and December 1990 45 had a follow-up of at least 3 years and the longest 30 years. The 28 conus-cauda equina-filum ependymomas operated during the same period are not considered in this study. An analysis of our cases and of the larger published series shows that favourable prognostic factors, apart of course from total tumour removal, which is now usually possible, are a site below the high cervical segments and a mild pre-operative symptom pattern. Patient age at diagnosis, tumour size and low dose (< 40 Gy) radiotherapy seem to have no influence on the prognosis. Aggressive surgical removal is the treatment of choice and also for long-term recurrence.     

Radiation therapy for intracranial germ cell tumors: Predictive value of tumor response as evaluated by computed tomography

Background This retrospective study analyzed the outcome in patients with intracranial germ-cell tumors to determine whether tumor response during radiation therapy can predict achievement of primary local control with radiation therapy alone. Methods Between 1983 and 1993, 22 patients with untreated primary intracranial germ cell tumors received a total whole brain radiation dose of between 18 Gy and 45 Gy (mean 31.3 Gy) with or without a localized field of 10 to 36.4 Gy (mean, 22.4 Gy), or local irradiation only (1 patient). In 10 patients with pineal tumor only, who were treated first with radiation therapy, tumor response to radiation therapy was evaluated using computed tomography (CT) (at baseline, and approximately 20 Gy and 50 Gy). Areas of calcification in the tumor were subtracted from total tumor volume. Follow-up time ranged from 2 to 12 years. Results Five-year actuarial survival rates for patients with germinoma were 71%, 100% for patients with a teratoma component, and 100% for patients without histologic verification. Patients with germinomas or tumors suspected of being germinomas who were given more than 50 Gy had no local relapse. There was no correlation between primary local control by radiation therapy alone and initial tumor volume. The rate of tumor volume response to irradiation assesed by CT was significantly different in those patients who relapsed compared to those who did not relapse Conclusion Tumor response during radiation therapy using CT was considered to be predictive of primary local control with radiation therapy alone.     

Primary intramedullary spinal melanoma: Diagnostic and treatment problems

A 76-year old female patient with 9 year history of right mastectomy for an infiltrating ductal breast cancer and no evidence of recurrent nor metastatic disease, was admitted due to pain in the lower thoracic area radiating bilaterally to the posterior aspect of the chest wall at the same level, difficulties in micturition, urinary hesitancy, and progressive weakness of the lower limbs. Primary intramedullary spinal tumor was demonstrated by a MRI study of the spine, partially resected, and found to be a malignant melanoma on pathological study. Postoperative irradiation and administration of dexamethasone did not improve the neurologic status.     

影响儿童颅外恶性生殖细胞瘤生存率的临床因素分析

目的:对影响儿童颅外恶性生殖细胞瘤生存率的临床因素进行分析.方法:随访40例儿童颅外恶性生殖细胞瘤患者,对不同发病部位、Brodeur分期、血清AFP水平及不同化疗方案分别进行生存率和统计学分析.结果:40例中,中位生存期3年2个月,2年无瘤生存率55.00%;不同原发部位似对生存率无影响;未成熟畸胎瘤的生存率高于含内胚窦瘤成分肿瘤,Ⅰ、Ⅱ期生存率高于Ⅲ、Ⅳ期;诊断时血清AFP正常的病例2年无瘤生存率高于AFP升高者;铂类化疗方案较其它方案明显提高了2年无瘤生存率.结论:随着化疗的进展,儿童颅外生殖细胞瘤尤其是恶性生殖细胞瘤的生存率有很大的提高,组织学类型、临床分期、治疗前AFP水平和化疗方案的选择是影响生存率的重要因素.     

逆行髁上交锁髓内钉治疗股骨远端骨折(附25例报告)

目的探讨逆行髁上交锁髓内钉在治疗股骨远端骨折中的应用价值。方法采用逆行髁上交锁髓内钉治疗股骨远端骨折25例。结果经随访9-30个月,优良率为96%。结论逆行髁上交锁髓内钉是治疗股骨远端骨折的一种有效的方法。     

儿童脊髓内肿瘤81例

目的总结儿童脊髓内肿瘤的病理特点、临床表现和手术治疗效果,探讨其特点和规律。方法81例儿童髓内肿瘤均经显微手术切除和病理证实,进行回顾性分析。结果儿童髓内肿瘤以星形细胞瘤24例(29.6%)、室管膜瘤13例(16.0%)和表皮样囊肿11例(13.6%)为多见,其运动系统损害是儿童髓内肿瘤最常见首发症状,其次为疼痛、感觉障碍、括约肌功能障碍等。放疗用于高度恶性肿瘤。椎板成形术可以有效减少脊柱畸形发生率。结论运动系统损害是儿童髓内肿瘤最常见首发症状,感觉障碍较成人发生率低。积极手术切除能获得满意疗效。     

交锁髓内钉固定治疗闭合性胫腓骨骨折疗效观察

目的总结交锁髓内钉治疗闭合性胫腓骨骨折的临床效果。方法采用交锁髓内钉治疗闭合性胫腓骨骨折72例,胫骨骨折复位满意,均予闭合穿钉术。结果随访69例,随访时间7-20个月,平均14个月,骨折愈合时间平均为4个月,均未植骨。1例延期愈合,没有不愈合及伤口感染病例。结论交锁髓内钉治疗胫腓骨骨折具有创伤小、固定牢靠、骨折愈合率高及功能恢复快的特点。     

交锁髓内钉治疗股骨胫骨骨折骨不连原因探讨

目的探讨股骨、胫骨骨折交锁髓内钉内固定后发生骨不连的原因及防治方法。方法对235例使用交锁髓内钉的股骨胫骨骨折病例进行回顾性分析,手术采用闭合、小切口或有限切开复位,用三维瞄准器锁定骨折远近端。结果235例随访189例196肢,平均随访15.2个月,股骨87例发生骨不连5例;胫骨109例发生骨不连8例。骨不连与骨折部位、手术方式、解锁时间有明显关系。结论应力遮挡和局部血供障碍是静力型交锁髓内钉所致骨不连的主要原因,术中尽量闭合复位和有限切开复位内固定及适时解锁可降低骨不连的发生。     

医用机器人辅助股骨带锁髓内针远端锁钉瞄准系统的实验研究

目的研制在骨折治疗中精确定位的机器人辅助远端锁钉瞄准系统。方法在以股骨髓内针远端锁钉植入手术中,采用模块化、小型化的并联机器人结构设计,应用机械臂空间定位技术,双目视觉、6自由度的机器人辅助髓内针远端锁钉瞄准系统。结合C型臂定位并实施导航控制进行远端锁钉植入。髓内针被分别置入塑料股骨(Swiss Sybone,5根,35孔)、人类干股骨标本(2根,12孔)、新鲜人尸体大腿(1具,6孔)。非扩髓型髓内针的尺寸范围从9/310到12/340。应用机器人辅助瞄准系统对上述髓内针进行远端锁钉植入,术中C型臂透视确认螺钉准确置入,记录锁钉植入过程的X线透视时间。结果所有远端锁孔被成功地锁定。在53个锁孔中,6例(11.1%)钻头触到锁定孔道,仍顺利穿过锁孔,没有对髓内针造成损伤。螺钉植入过程中需要的术中X线透视时间为1.8s±0.3s。结论医用机器人使仅应用两幅计算机校准的X线图像,不需要额外的术中X线透视来导航器械,手术过程中总的X线透射时间显著减少。人机交互功能操作易于掌握,可作为机器人辅助长骨治疗中精确定位和稳定操作的技术平台。