MANAGEMENT OF EXTRAMEDULLARY INTRADURAL SPINAL TUMORS

Abstract

Spinal tumors are relatively uncommon, accounting for approximately 5%–10% of all central nervous system tumors, with an estimated 70%–80% being located in the intradural extramedullary space. The most common intradural extramedullary tumors are schwannomas, followed by meningiomas. Other less common intradural extramedullary tumors include myxopapillary ependymomas. The clinical presentation of these tumors is often rather nonspecific, and clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion when evaluating patients with chronic back pain. Approximately 50% of affected individuals experience nonspecific back pain, whereas radiating pain, motor deficits, and sensory loss often progress gradually. This study examines the surgical management of intradural spinal tumors treated in our department, focusing on surgical techniques Some of these benign lesions can pose a surgical challenge due to their location to spinal cord, tumor consistency (densely mineralized / calcified). Posterior approaches involving laminectomy while preserving facet joints are typically sufficient for the surgical resection of dorsal and dorsolateral tumors. In conclusion the total surgical removal of these tumors while preserving neurological function remains can pose a surgical challenge especially for those that are densely calcifed and situated anterolateral to spinal cord, but employing standard microsurgical techniques often makes these resections possible.