[Sarcomatous tumors of the spinal canal--clinical aspects and long-term results]

45 patients were operated on because of a malignant mesenchymal process in the spinal canal. 27 men and 18 women were affected, the average age at the time of operation being 37 years. Preoperatively 40 patients already showed an incomplete or complete transverse lesion with a mean duration of the disease being 9 months. After the operation 21 patients showed an improvement, of these 12 were able to walk by themselves. The total mortality with an after-observation period of three years amounted to 64.4 per cent (29 cases).