Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors

The three most common types of intramedullary spinal cord tumors are low-grade astrocytomas, ependymomas, and high-grade astrocytomas. Surgical extirpation is the necessary and sufficient primary treatment for most intramedullary spinal cord tumors. Radiation therapy may also have a role in the management of persistent, recurrent, or progressive low-grade astrocytomas and ependymomas. The current treatment of spinal cord high-grade astrocytomas, which includes surgical debulking, radiation therapy, and possibly chemotherapy, is clearly inadequate. Chemotherapy may have a potential role for certain progressive spinal cord tumors, but the role is undefined at present. Recent reports have described the use of stereotactic radiosurgery for extramedullary spinal tumors, and stereotactic radiosurgery may someday be useful in the management of intramedullary spinal cord tumors. Rehabilitation programs are an important component of the multidisciplinary care of patients with spinal cord tumors. Finally, more work, especially the inclusion of adults and children with intramedullary spinal cord tumors into prospective clinical trials, is needed to improve the therapy of intramedullary spinal cord tumors and rehabilitation after diagnosis of a spinal cord tumor.