Intramedullary spinal cord tumors: A retrospective multicentric study

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Intramedullary tumors are rare spinal cord neoformations.
• Their rarity necessitates long-term studies for significant case numbers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze prognostic factors for intramedullary spinal cord tumors.
• To evaluate clinical, radiological, and histological findings in relation to outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, descriptive, multicentric study over 27 years.
• Analysis of 120 operated spinal cord tumor cases.
• Evaluation of clinical, radiological, histological data, and postoperative progression.

Main Results:

• Mean patient age was 33.84 years; 57 males, 63 females.
• Motor deficits were the most common symptom (77.5%).
• Glial tumors (67.5%) included ependymomas (39) and astrocytomas (35). Total resection correlated with better disease progression than subtotal resection.

Conclusions:

• Age is not a significant factor for functional results.
• Presurgical functional status, histological type, and extent of surgical resection are key prognostic factors.