Management of Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors with 26 Cases in the Department of Neurosurgery of Ibn Sina University Hospital—Rabat

Abstract

Intramedullary spinal cord tumors are relatively rare neoplasms of all Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors. Their treatment and prognosis are largely dependent on tumor histology and patient functionality. The introduction and breakthroughs of microsurgical techniques have made surgery the mainstay of treatment for intramedullary tumors. We performed a retrospective analysis of 26 cases of primitive intramedullary spinal cord tumors treated between 2013 and 2019 at the Neurosurgery Department of Ibn SINA University Hospital of Rabat. In our patient’s population, the sex ratio was 1.75 showing with a predominance of male over female patients. The median age was 26 years old. The clinical symptomatology is dominated by a slow medullar compression. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed for all the patients and led to the positive diagnosis in all cases with a radio-histological correlation in 54.4% of the cases. The treatment was surgical in all cases by laminectomy in posterior access. This surgery has allowed a complete tumoral resection. Histological examination of the tumor was done for all patients and led to diagnosis confirmation in all cases. Understanding intramedullary spinal tumor is imperative to design proper management and obtain optimal patient outcomes. In addition, a meticulous operative technique and the use of surgical adjuncts are essential to accomplish proper tumor removal, diminish the risk of recurrence, and preserve neurologic functions.