Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors Research Articles

Functional outcomes in intradural extramedullary spinal tumors.

Intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal cord tumors account for approximately two-thirds of benign intraspinal neoplasms. These are amenable to gross total excision but can have variable functional outcomes, which plays a key role in assessing their impact on a patient's quality of life. Understanding the functional outcomes associated with these tumors is crucial for healthcare professionals to devise appropriate treatment plans and provide comprehensive care. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 130 patients with IDEM tumors who underwent surgery in the past six years between January 2017 and December 2022 at a single institution. Patient demographics, symptoms, and tumor characteristics (anatomical and pathological) in all operated spinal IDEM tumors were analyzed. The neurological findings obtained during the preoperative stage and the postoperative follow-up were evaluated according to the Frankel grading. The back pain was assessed using the Denis pain scale (DPS). The age range, gender distribution, presentation, histopathology, and tumor characteristics were analyzed. The histopathological outcomes of the study were as follows: 56 cases of schwannoma, 37 cases of meningiomas, 16 patients of neurofibroma, six cases of epidermoid cyst, five cases each of ependymoma and dermoid cyst, three cases of arachnoid cyst, two cases of metastasis, and one case of paraganglioma. Pain was the most common symptom (38.5%), followed by weakness in limbs (31.5%), paresthesia/numbness (22.3%), and sphincter disturbance (7.7%). Complete total resection was seen in 93% of cases, with 7% undergoing subtotal excision. The complications encountered were - four cases of surgical site infection and one case each of cerebrospinal fluid leak, pseudomeningocele, and epidural hematoma. In our series, 49.3% of patients had significantly good improvement in functional outcomes as per improvement in Frankel score, and 43% of patients had good functional improvement. Significant functional improvement was noted at immediate postoperative follow-up, 2-week follow-up, and six-month follow-up periods. Reoccurrence was seen in 7 cases (5.4%). The DPS score mean values showed a significant decrease over the follow-up duration as compared to preoperative mean values. Significantly poor outcome was seen in IDEM tumours present anteriorly. The IDEM tumors are usually benign and are readily detected by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging scans. These have variable functional outcomes in different centers. Assessing this functional outcome is an essential aspect of managing IDEM spinal tumors. It was observed through our study that the ventral location of the tumor, thoracic tumors, and poor preoperative neurological status of the patient correspond with poorer postoperative functional outcomes. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the pain symptoms with improvement of Frankel score was seen postoperatively, thus this being suggestive of a significant improvement of functional outcome after surgery. This study helps to conclude that the morbidity associated with the resection of IDEM tumors is not as significant as originally thought to be.

Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Tumors: A Clinical Study and Management without the Aid of Nerve Monitoring

Abstract Background: The incidence of primary spinal cord tumors is less and the true incidence is still not known and various studies are still being done. These tumors are benign and slow growing, and they generally present with pain – either radiculopathy or axial back pain or focal neurological deficits due to the loss of roots, myelopathy from spinal cord compression, or cauda equina symptoms due to chronic compression. Early diagnosis and operation are gratifying as the lesions are mostly benign and can be completely resected as well as preservation of functionality if operated as early as possible. Although rare, an inadvertent neurological injury during surgery is a concerning complication that can potentially be prevented with the assistance of intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM). This technology enables real-time assessment of spinal cord function by providing feedback from sensory tracts, motor tracts, and individual nerve roots. However, the definitive requirement for IONM in the treatment of a highly curable condition is still under consideration. Objective: our study aims at studying the clinical features of intradural extramedullary tumors and their operative management without nerve monitoring. Material and Methods: Patients with intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal cord tumors who fit the inclusion criteria and who were willing to investigations, surgical procedures, and follow up were enrolled in the study, and consent was obtained. Patient assessment was done clinically by McCormick’s Scale and radiologically by magnetic resonance imaging. Patients who underwent operation were followed up. The data was collected and analysed using SPSS software. Results: Nineteen patients were enrolled in the study. The age group ranged from 6 years to 79 years. There were 13 females and 6 males in the study group. The common presenting complaints were backache and upper and lower limb pain. Nine out of the 19 patients underwent operative procedures after thorough radiological and clinical evaluation. Histopathology showed five cases of schwannoma and four cases of meningioma. The mean McCormick’s Scale preoperatively was 4.11, whereas postoperatively, it was 3.10. The operative procedures were performed without the aid of IONM, yet there were no inadvertent intraoperative injuries and postoperative outcomes were good. Our study data were comparable with other studies. Conclusion: IDEM tumors, though technically challenging to operate, have excellent results in terms of outcomes due to their benign characteristics as well as complete resectability. Therefore, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive examination and imaging for patients experiencing backaches and weakness. Following a careful evaluation, early surgical intervention should be considered, as the timeliness of the surgery contributes to enhanced outcomes. The unavailability of nerve monitoring did not portend any added risk of surgery if done meticulously though its aid would make the operative procedure safer and gross resection better.

Does the degree of preoperative gait disturbance remain after tumor resection in patients with intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors?

Retrospective comparative study. This study aimed to determine whether the degree of preoperative gait disturbance remains following surgical resection in patients with intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors (IDEMSCTs), and to investigate any factors that may influence poor improvement in postoperative gait disturbance. The single institution in Japan. In total, 78 IDEMSCTs patients who required surgical excision between 2010 and 2019 were included. According to the degree of preoperative gait disturbance using modified McCormick scale (MMCS) grade, they were divided into the Mild and Severe groups. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 50.7 ± 17.9 months. Data on demographic and surgical characteristics were compared between the two groups. There was no significant difference in terms of age at surgery, sex, tumor size, surgical time, estimated blood loss, tumor histopathology, and postoperative follow-up period between the Mild and Severe groups. At the final follow-up, 84.6% of IDEMSCTs patients were able to walk without support. Gait disturbance improved after surgery in most of the patients with preoperative MMCS grades II-IV, but remained in approximately half of patients with preoperative MMCS grade V. Age at surgery was correlated with poor improvement in postoperative gait disturbance in the Severe group. Regardless of the degree of preoperative gait disturbance, it improved after tumor resection in most of the IDEMSCTs patients. However, in the preoperative MMCS grade III-V cases, older age at surgery would be an important factor associated with poor improvement in postoperative gait disturbance.

Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors and Outcome with Surgical Approach: A Single Centre Retrospective Study

Background: Intradural extramedullary spinal tumor (IDEM) is rare compared to all neoplasms of the central nervous system; however, it is the most common type of primary intraspinal neoplasms. Most tumors are meningioma, schwannoma, and neurofibroma. IDEM tumor has a predilection in women with ages ranging from 40-60 years. This study was conducted to describe the outcome of patients with IDEM tumors after surgery in Dr. Moewardi General Hospital from 2019-2022.
 Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted in 2019-2022. Forty-four patients diagnosed with IDEM tumors and who underwent surgical approach were included. The studied variables include age, pathological diagnosis, intervention, and postoperative follow-up.
 Results: Most subjects were within the age range of 40-60 years old (52.3%), women (63.6%), and had schwannoma (45.5%), followed by meningioma (25%). Based on gender, both men and women mostly had schwannoma (56.25% and 39.3%, respectively). All subjects underwent tumor excision laminectomy. In the follow-up, most subjects (86.4%) had improved clinical symptoms after surgery.
 Conclusion: Intradural extramedullary spinal tumors mostly occur in women 40-60 years old, and schwannoma and meningioma are the most frequent types. Laminectomy intervention can provide clinical symptom improvement in most patients.

Clinicopathological Study of Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Tumors and Its Correlation With Functional Outcome.

IntroductionIntradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal cord tumors account for approximately two-thirds of largely benign intraspinal neoplasms. These are amenable to gross total excision and usually carry a good functional outcome.MethodsIn this study, we reviewed the surgical outcomes of 35 patients who underwent excision of intradural extramedullary tumors. Patient demographics, severity and duration of symptoms, and tumor characteristics (anatomical and pathological) in all operated spinal IDEM tumors were collected. The neurological findings obtained during the preoperative stage and the postoperative follow-up were evaluated according to the Frankel and Nurick grading. The back pain was assessed with help of the Denis pain scale (DPS).ResultsThe histopathological outcomes of the study were as follows: six patients of neurofibroma, 12 cases of schwannoma, nine cases of meningiomas, three cases of ependymoma, one case of dorsal neurenteric cyst, two cases of epidermoid cyst, one case of cauda equina paraganglioma, and one case of filum terminale dermoid cyst. Paresthesia/numbness were the commonest symptoms (88.6%), weakness of limbs in (80%), sphincter dysfunction in 15 patients (42.9%), and paraplegia was seen in three patients (8.57%). The complications encountered were - one case each of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, surgical site infection, and pseudomeningocele. The percentage of spinal canal occupied ranged from 71-94%. The mean percentage of the spinal canal occupied by the tumor was 81.8%.In our series, 77.14% of patients (p<0.0001) had good functional outcomes as per improvement in Frankel score. The DPS and Nurick score mean values showed a significant decrease over the follow-up duration as compared to preoperative mean values. Significant functional improvement was noted at the one-week, one-month, and one-year follow-up, with a p-value of <0.0001.ConclusionsThe IDEM tumors are usually benign and are readily detected by contrast-enhanced MRI scans. These have excellent surgical outcomes with some exceptions. Greater canal occupancy and a longer duration of symptoms are usually seen to correspond with suboptimal functional outcomes.

Tumor Occupancy Ratio-An Imaging Characteristic Prognosticating the Surgical Outcome of Benign Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors.

Intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal cord tumors are two thirds of all spinal tumors. We have prospectively analyzed the importance of the tumor occupancy ratio as a factor for predicting the course of the disease and in prognosticating the surgical outcome in patients with IDEM tumors. We prospectively analyzed 44 consecutive cases of IDEM tumors, diagnosed as cervical, thoracic, and lumbar IDEM tumors (excluding conus/cauda equina lesion) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), that were operated on at our institution between 2014 and 2016. We measured the tumor occupancy ratio and noted the sagittal and axial location of the tumor in the preoperative MRI and performed the laminectomy and unilateral medial facetectomy. A primary outcome has been noted according to the gait disability score in the preoperative period and in the follow-up period of 1 year. In the statistical analysis, categorical variables were compared using a chi-square test, and an analysis of variance and student t tests were used for the continuous variables. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. The tumor occupancy ratio showed a significant association to the preoperative gait disability score (P < .001) and also predicted that the surgical outcome is much better in patients with tumors with a low tumor occupancy ratio than in patients with tumors with a high occupancy ratio (P < .001). No difference in the tumor occupancy ratio was noted in 2 different pathological tumors, and there was also no difference in the tumor occupancy ratio at different sagittal and axial locations of the tumor. Tumor occupancy ratio has shown a significant impact on the preoperative course and also predicts the surgical outcome in patients with IDEM tumors. Hence, it is an important imaging characteristic to prognosticate the outcome in IDEM tumors and should be noted in each case.

Clinical outcome of intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors: A single-center retrospective analytical study.

Background: Intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors (IESCT) account for approximately two-thirds of largely benign intraspinal neoplasms. They occasionally present with acute neurological deterioration warranting emergent surgical intervention.Methods: Here, we reviewed a series of 31 patients with intradural extramedullary spinal tumors who underwent surgery from 2012 to 2019. Patients averaged 50.8 years of age, and there were 16 males and 15 females. Patients were followed for a minimum of 1 year. Multiple clinical outcome variables were studied (e.g., Karnofsky Performance Score [KPS], visual analog scale (VAS), and Frankel grade).Results: The majority of IESCT tumors were found in the thoracic spine 18 (58.06%) followed by the lumbar 8 (25.80%), cervical 1 (3.22%), and combined junctional tumors 4 (12.90%) (cervicothoracic-02 and thoracolumbar-02). Histopathological diagnoses included schwannomas-16 (51.61%), meningiomas-11 (35.48%), lipomas-2 (6.45%), hemangiomas-1 (3.22), and ependymomas-01 (03.22%). The VAS score was reduced in all cases, while KPS and Frankel grades were significantly improved. Complications included cerebrospinal fluid leakage, new/residual paresthesias, and tumor recurrence (12.50%).Conclusion: Most intradural extramedullary tumors are benign and are readily diagnosed utilizing MRI scans. Notably, good functional outcomes follow surgical intervention.

Intraoperative Neuromonitoring in Patients with Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Cord Tumor: A Single-Center Case Series

Intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors (ID-EMSCT) make up 40% of all spinal neoplasms. Resection of these tumors is mostly conducted using intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). However, the literature shows heterogenous data on its added value for ID-EMSCT. The aim of this study is to define sensitivity and specificity of IONM in ID-EMSCT resection and to study possible correlations between preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables and neurologic outcomes after ID-EMSCT resection. Data of patients undergoing ID-EMSCT surgeries with IONM from January 2012 until July 2019 were examined. Using neurologic status 6 weeks and 1 year postoperatively, sensitivity and specificity for IONM were calculated. IONM test results and neurologic outcomes were paired to preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative parameters. Data of 78 patients were analyzed. 6 weeks postoperatively, 14.10% of patients had worse neurologic status, decreasing to 9.84% 1 year postoperatively. Multimodal IONM showed a sensitivity of 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-0.94) and a specificity of 0.78 (95% CI, 0.66-0.87) after 6 weeks, and a sensitivity of 1.00 (95% CI, 0.54-1.00) and a specificity of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.57-0.82) after 1 year. IONM yielded high to perfect sensitivity and high specificity. However, IONM signals did not always determine the extent of resection, and false-positive results did not always result in incomplete tumor resections, because of surgeons overruling IONM. Therefore, IONM cannot fully replace clinical judgment and other perioperative information.

Functional Outcomes and Temporal Profile of Recovery in Patients with Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors with Poor Nurick Grade

Patients with spinal intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tumors usually have a good functional outcome after tumor excision. However, the literature is sparse on the functional outcome in patients with poor Nurick grade (NG 4 and 5). A retrospective review of 81 patients with IDEM tumors presenting with a poor NG was performed to determine postoperative functional outcome and the temporal pattern of recovery. The following risk factors were analyzed: preoperative NG, duration of symptoms, tumor location, peritumoral edema, presence of syrinx, and tumor type. Neurologic function started recovering soon after surgery, with >80% of the patients improving by ≥1 grade at the end of 1 week after surgery. Of the 66 patients available for follow-up of >6 months after surgery, 63 (95.5%) improved to NG 0-2 and 51 (77.2%) became asymptomatic (NG 0 or 1). Three patients had a poor functional outcome on follow-up of >31 months; 2 had improved from NG 5 to NG 4, whereas 1 patient continued to be in NG 4. Factors associated with a poor outcome were an upper thoracic location (P= 0.025) and presence of a syrinx (P= 0.004). None of the patients had bladder dysfunction at follow-up of >6 months. After excision of spinal IDEM tumors, in patients who present with a poor neurologic function (NG 4 and 5), good functional outcome (NG 0-2) can be expected in >95% of patients. No recovery can be anticipated beyond 1 year after surgery.

Comparison of the safety and outcomes between keyhole surgery and total laminectomy for resection of intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors

Objective: To compare the safety and outcomes between keyhole surgery and total laminectomy for resection of intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors. Methods: Retrospectively collected the clinical data of 102 patients with intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors(≤3 cm) treated by surgery in Department of Orthopedics in Fujian Provincial Hospital from January 2014 to January 2017. Fifty cases underwent the keyhole surgery and the other 52 received total laminectomy. The operation time, volume of intraoperative bleeding, the leaving bed time, the length of postoperative hospital stay, drainage, postoperative complications, intraoperative neuroelectrophysiological monitoring (IONM), preoperative and postoperative visual analogue score (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), Oswestry disability index (ODI), McCormick spinal cord function grading were analyzed and compared between the two groups to evaluate the safety and clinical outcomes. The data of two groups were compared by t, χ(2) or rank sum test. Results: The keyhole group was followed up for (30±15) months and the total laminectomy group was followed up for (45±15) months. All the tumors were completely resected. All the incision healed well and no cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred. There was no statistically significant differences in baseline data, operation time, the results of IONM, preoperative and 3 months, 6 months, 12 months postoperative VAS, NDI (cervical tumors), ODI (thoracic and lumbar tumors), McCormick spinal cord function grading, tumor recurrence between the two groups (all P>0.05). The keyhole group had less intraoperative bleeding than that in the total laminectomy group ((73±24) ml vs (136±26) ml, t=-12.610, P<0.05), earlier postoperative leaving bed time ((1.4±0.6) d vs (6.5±1.0) d, t=-31.822, P<0.05), and the postoperative hospital stay was shorter ((4.3±0.8) d vs (11.2±2.0) d, t=-22.319, P<0.05), and it was more advantageous in terms of drainage. The VAS, NDI and ODI in the keyhole group improved significantly compared with those in the total laminectomy group 2 weeks post operation (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with the total laminectomy, keyhole surgery is suitable for the treatment of intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors with small size and limited location, and it is equivalently safe with faster functional recovery.

Surgical outcome of intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors - Our experience at a tertiary health care center

Introduction: To report the treatment results of 19 patients who underwent excision of intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal tumors.&#x0D; Materials &amp; Methods: This is a retrospective study. Patients’ records were retrieved from the electronic database of Grande International Hospital. There were 19 IDEM spinal tumors excised over a period of 6 years between January 2013 and August 2019 by a single surgeon. There were 11 (57.9%) males and 8 (42.1%) females with an average age of 48.37±21.87 years (range, 5-79 years). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 12.87±14.88 months (range, 15 days - 60 months). The histopathological findings, locations of the tumors, and clinical results were analyzed. Neurological findings were evaluated using ASIA grading system and pain was evaluated using VAS score.&#x0D; Results: Histopathologically the tumors were: 8 meningioma (42.1%), 4 schwannoma (21.1%), 4 neurofibroma (21.1%), 1 dermoid cyst (5.3%), 1 lipoma (5.3%), and 1 myxopapillary ependymoma (5.3%). Tumor locations were: dorsal in 10 (52.6%), lumbar in 5 (26.3%), lumbosacral in 2 (10.5%), dorsolumbar in 1 (5.3%), and cervical in 1 (5.3%) patient. Neurologic status of 7 patients was normal and 12 had neurologic involvement with 3 patients having Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) preoperatively. At the final follow-up, 3-grade, 2-grade and 1-grade improvement in ASIA score was observed in 1, 6 and 1 cases, respectively. There was no change in the ASIA grade in 1 case. All 3 cases of CES achieved full neural recovery. Preoperative VAS score was 9.21±1.08 and improved significantly to 0.74±1.62 after surgery. Neurological improvement was seen in 91.67% with complete recovery in 75% of the cases and not a single case deteriorated neurologically post-surgery.&#x0D; Conclusion: Most intradural-extramedullary spinal cord tumors are mostly benign and good clinical results can be obtained when adequately treated with surgery.

Unilateral laminectomy approach for total resection of intradural extramedullary spinal tumor

Spinal tumors found in about 5-15% of the central nervous system neoplasm. Intradural-extramedullary spinal cord tumors are one of the types that usually managed with total laminectomy but with many postoperative complications. A 76-year-old woman with paraplegia caused by intradural-extramedullary intraspinal tumor at thoracic 4 level. For this patient, we performed unilateral laminectomy without any fusion or stabilization from the left side then we performed total excision of the tumor. The surgery was successfully done with fast improvement of patient condition, minimal pain after surgery, no blood transfusion needed, shorter intensive care period needed, and fast recovery time are the prominent things in this case. Three days after surgery, the patient’s motoric power already improved and then the patient is permitted to go home at the fifth day.

Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Sarcoidosis Mimicking Meningioma

Background Spinal sarcoidosis is a rare subgroup of neurosarcoidosis. Although most sarcoid lesions develop in the intramedullary compartment, intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal sarcoidosis is an extremely rare entity. Case Presentation We herein report a case of IDEM spinal sarcoidosis mimicking a meningioma. A 32-year-old man presented to the hospital with clumsy hands and was unable to walk without assistance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine revealed a dural tail sign that is common in meningiomas. The patient underwent gross total resection. The pathological findings consisted with a sarcoid leision of the spinal cord. The patient's myelopathy recovered after surgery. Conclusions Physicians should be alert for the possibility of IDEM sarcoidosis mimicking a meningioma in the differential diagnosis of IDEM spinal cord tumors.

Hemilaminectomy for Spinal Cord Intradural Tumors: An Institutional Experience.

Introduction:Laminectomy is the workhorse of spinal cord tumor surgery. This procedure is not without the debilitating sequelae of postoperative pain and delayed kyphosis. Hemilaminectomy is an alternate option to laminectomy which offers the advantage of preserving the posterior supporting structures of the spine on the contralateral side. In this study, we analyze the outcome of hemilaminectomy clinically with improvement in pain scores and Nurick's grade as well as radiologically by assessing for the development of delayed kyphosis. We also discuss the technique and operative nuances of hemilaminectomy in intradural extramedullary tumors of the spinal cord.Materials and Methods:All patients with intradural spinal cord tumors were included in the study. All patients underwent unilateral hemilaminectomy (UHL) depending on the laterality of the tumor on the preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Preoperative neurologic status was assessed with Nurick's grade for tumors involving the cervicothoracic region tumors, and visual analog scale scores were recorded for tumors of Thoracic, Lumbar and Lumbosacral regions. The postoperative outcomes were assessed by improvement in respective scales on follow-up. The occurrence of delayed spinal deformity was assessed by follow-up X-rays. Any complications whether intraoperative or postoperative were recorded.Results:There were a total of 34 cases of intradural extramedullary tumors in this study. Patient population consisted of 11 males and 23 females. Total excision was achieved in 31 patients. In three patients, we were unable to achieve complete removal through UHL. In these patients the procedure was converted to total laminectomy. They were excluded from analysis. The distribution of the tumors was in cervical, cervicothoracic, thoracic, lumbar, and lumbosacral region. All patients presented with pain or varying degrees or neurologic deficits. Sixteen patients underwent UHL from the right side, while 18 from the left. There were no intraoperative complications. The neurological status and pain scores of all patients improved postoperatively at 3 and 6 months of follow-up. There was no radiological evidence of kyphosis of the involved segment.Conclusion:With a small learning curve, UHL is a good corridor for the removal of intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors. This approach offers the advantage of less postoperative pain and no postoperative deformity.

Surgical Complications in Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors - An ACS-NSQIP Analysis of Spinal Cord Level and Malignancy

Intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal cord tumors account for two-thirds of all intraspinal neoplasms. Surgery for IDEM tumors carries risks for many different complications, which to date have been poorly described and quantified. In this study, we better characterize risk factors and complications for IDEM tumors, stratifying patients by spinal cord level and malignancy. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database was queried to determine 30-day outcomes following surgery for IDEM tumors between 2005 and 2016. Patients with cervical, thoracic, and lumbar tumors were compared in terms of demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications. A similar analysis was performed comparing patients with benign and malignant tumors. A total of 991 patients with IDEM tumors were identified in the cohort. The majority of tumors were thoracic (44.3%), followed by lumbar (35.4%) and cervical (20.3%). Only 6.3% of patients were readmitted within 30 days, 4.2% returned to the operating room, and 1.0% died. Significant associations were noted between spinal cord level and patient sex, age, functional status, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, prevalence of diabetes and hypertension, and risk of developing pneumonia. Benign and malignant tumors differed by patient sex, baseline ASA class, risk of return to the operating room, mortality, and likelihood of transfusion. IDEM tumors are common and carry surgical risks, with different complication profiles for tumors at different spinal levels and degrees of malignancy. With definitive risk factors and outcomes, the ACS-NSQIP cohort provides a snapshot of national neurosurgery trends and outcomes in contemporary IDEM surgery.

Intradural extramedullary tumor in the stenotic cervical spine resected through open-door laminoplasty with hydroxyapatite spacers: report of two cases

BackgroundSafe excision of spinal cord tumors depends on sufficient visualization of the tumor and surrounding structures. In patients with spinal cord tumor adjacent to a stenotic spinal canal, extensive bony decompression proximal and distal to the tumor should be considered for safer excision of the tumor. Extensive wide laminectomy is one choice for such cases, but postoperative problems such as kyphotic deformity remain a concern.Case presentationA 76-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman presented with symptomatic intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors in the cervical spine. Both patients showed a combination of spondylotic changes in the cervical spine and stenotic condition at the level of the tumor. Both tumors were successfully resected through open-door laminoplasty with hydroxyapatite (HA) spacers, with the tumor located on the side of the laminoplasty. Histological diagnosis was schwannoma for both tumors. HA spacers completely bonded to the host bone and did not interfere with postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the inside of the spinal canal. Cervical spine alignment was maintained at the final follow-up of 6 years in both cases.ConclusionLaminoplasty with HA spacers enabled successful tumor extirpation, reliable MRI follow-up after surgery, and maintenance of normal cervical spine alignment. Laminoplasty with HA spacers represents a good option for the treatment of cervical spinal cord tumor in patients combined with spinal stenosis.

Intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors: a retrospective study at tertiary referral hospital

Abstract Introduction: Intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal cord tumours account two thirds of all intraspinal tumours. The objective of this study was to determine short- and long-term outcomes of surgical patients with IDEM spinal cord tumours, and to see clinical features that could be helpful in management of patients with these lesions (operated by single senior surgeononly). Methods: A retrospective review of 201 operative IDEM spinal cord tumours cases between 1993 and 2014 was performed. Outcomes were scored at one month and at mean follow-up of 8.5 months postoperatively. In addition, patient demographics, tumour types and locations were also collected. Statistical analysis was conducted utilizing Chi-square and Student's t-tests. Results: There were 93 men and 108 women (mean age 48 yrs, range 5-87 yrs). Men presented at a younger age than women (42 vs 51 yrs, P&lt;0.02). 165 (82.08 %) patients presented with severe radiculopathy and myelopathy. The 36 (17.91 %) had symptoms of radiculopathy. Mean duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis was 11 months. Schwannomas (113 patients) had the longest mean duration of symptoms (14.9 months), followed by meningiomas (68 patients, 8.4 months), and ependymomas (20 patients, 2 months). Hundred and eighty nine (94%) of patients demonstrated significant improvement at one-month and 186 (92%) at 6-month mean follow-up. Only 39/201 (19.4%) patients had residual focal deficits on long term follow-up. Conclusions: Surgery for IDEM should be expected to produce significant and dramatic improvement in most of patients. Demographic, tumor-specific and anatomic considerations will be clinically useful while managing IDEM.

Perioperative Cost Analysis of Minimally Invasive vs Open Resection of Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors.

Minimally invasive spinal surgery (MIS) has emerged as a clinically effective tool but its cost-effectiveness remains unclear. No studies have compared MIS vs open surgical techniques for the treatment of intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tumors. To analyze and compare open and MIS techniques for resection of IDEM tumors, with focus on perioperative costs. Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database including 35 IDEM patients (18 open, 17 MIS). Perioperative data, hospital costs, and hospital and physician charges for in-hospital services associated with the index surgical procedure and readmissions within 90 days were compared. Mean estimated blood loss, operative time, preoperative hospital charges, and physician fees were similar between open and MIS techniques. Patient and tumor characteristics were similar between groups. MIS cases were associated with shorter intensive care unit and floor stay. There were 3 complications in the open group, requiring 2 readmissions and 1 reoperation. Hospital costs ($21 307.80 open, $15 015.20 MIS, P < .01), and postoperative ($75 383.48 open, $56 006.88 MIS, P < .01) and total charges ($100 779.38 open, $76 100.92 MIS, P < .01) were significantly lower in the MIS group. There were no tumor recurrences in either group. All patients except for one in the open group maintained or improved their Nurick score. Both MIS and open techniques were able to adequately treat IDEM tumors. Reductions in complication rate and intensive care unit and hospital stay led to a decrease in hospital costs of almost 30% in the MIS group. MIS resection of IDEM tumors is not only an effective and safe option, but allows faster hospital discharge and significant cost savings.

Functional Outcomes following Surgical Management of Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors

Background Data: Intradural extramedullary tumors are mostly benign lesions that often present late due to their slow rate of growth. Recent advances in the field of neuro-imaging have greatly increased the ability to identify these tumors in early stages. The most effective treatment modality for these tumors is gross total resection, which can sometimes be associated with neurological morbidity and functional impairment. Purpose: to evaluate the functional outcomes following surgical excision of intradural extramedullary spinal tumors. Study Design: This is a retrospective cohort clinical case study. Patients and Methods: In this study the medical records of patients who underwent surgery for intradural extramedullary tumors at Ain Shams University Hospitals and Banha University Hospital between 2012 and 2015were reviewed. Patient’s demographics, clinical presentation, radiographic findings, tumor location, histopathological findings and neurological outcome were documented from patients’ files. Pain was evaluated by Visual Analog Scale and neurological function was graded before and after surgery by Nurick’s Functional Grading System. Results: This study included sixteen patients with intradural extramedullary mass lesions. Six were males (37%) and 10 were females (63%), mean age at presentation was 41 years (range 24 to 63 years). Histopathologically, there were 10 schwannomas (62%), 4 meningioma (%25) and 2 Neurofibromas (%13). Based on the location, we had 9 thoracic, 3 cervical and 3 lumbarlesions. There was improvement of the mean VAS score from 7.8 preoperative to 1.6 postoperative, as well as the mean Nurick’s grade from 3.1 preoperatively to1.6 postoperatively. Conclusion: Intradural extramedullary tumors are almost benign and slowly growing lesions that may be asymptomatic for many years before presentations. These tumors can be surgically excised through a standard posterior approach. Favorable outcome can be achieved by early diagnosis andearly treatment with maximal tumor resection. (2015ESJ100)

Hemilaminectomy approach for intradural extramedullary spinal tumors: an analysis of 164 patients.

OBJECT The authors report their experience with the use of a minimally invasive hemilaminectomy approach for the excision of intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tumors of the spinal cord. METHODS Included were 164 consecutive patients (167 tumors in total), treated between January 2004 and December 2014, in whom the hemilaminectomy approach for IDEM spinal cord tumors was planned. The clinicoradiological data of patients presenting to Christian Medical College were analyzed retrospectively using a computerized chart-review method. Preoperative MRI localization was used in 51 cases. RESULTS The mean age (± SD) of the patients was 42.6 ± 16.6 years, and the mean duration of symptoms was 20.8 ± 27.8 months. The average tumor size was 2.4 ± 1.7 cm. Forty-four tumors were cervical, 5 were cervicothoracic, 72 were thoracic, 7 were thoracolumbar, and 39 were lumbar. Forty-two tumors were ventrally located, whereas 11 were ventrolateral; the rest were either dorsal or dorsolateral. The most common pathologies were schwannoma (110 cases) and meningioma (31 cases). Total excision was achieved for 93% of the tumors. The average duration of surgery was 1.6 ± 0.6 hours. CONCLUSIONS The hemilaminectomy approach to the removal of intradural tumors was quick and safe and resulted in minimal morbidity and no mortality. Preoperative MRI localization improved accuracy and reduced operating time by eliminating the need for intraoperative fluoroscopy.