The frequency of various spinal cord tumors (SCTs) in surgically treated patients at Shiraz Shahid Chamran Hospital from 2012 to 2022

Abstract

Abstract Aim The incidence of spinal cord tumors (SCTs) in a population considering sex, age, histopathology, and emplacement position of tumors is different between various regions. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the frequency of various SCTs in surgically treated patients in a reference spinal surgery center in Shiraz, Iran. Method Documented information related to 109 SCT patients surgically treated was collected from the archive of Shahid Chamran Hospital (the reference center of spinal cord surgery in the south of Iran) in Shiraz from 2012 to 2022. This information includes demographics, medical history, histology, and position of SCTs within the spinal cord. Result The population of patients included 65 men and 44 women, with a mean age of 44.7 years old. Most patients (26 cases) were in the age group of 50–59 years. Neurological function in most patients (51 cases) was equivalent to level D of the ASIA impairment scale (AIS), and the most common complaints of patients (83 cases) were related to pain. Finally, anatomic and histologic evaluations indicated that intradural and schwannoma tumors were the most common types of tumors, with 64 and 25 cases, respectively. Conclusions In the present study, most of the findings are consistent with the previous reports. Schwannoma and ependymoma tumors were the most common types of SCTs and the most common types of intramedullary tumors, respectively. The sixth decade of life was the most common age of incidence. Neurological function in most patients with SCT was equivalent to levels of D and E of AIS. However, regarding the factor of gender, our results are similar to those of the Asian population. More comprehensive studies in the future likely reveal the probable role of environmental, genetic, and hormonal factors in the etiology of SCTs.