[Surgical Strategies and Procedures for Spinal Schwannoma and Meningioma]

Spinal extramedullary tumors are the most common types of schwannomas and meningiomas. Therefore, most spinal cord surgeons should safely perform surgeries for these tumors. The posterior approach with conventional laminectomy is sufficient for the safe resection of almost all spinal extramedullary tumors. However, for specific tumors, it is necessary to consider mechanical stress on the spinal cord during surgery, invasion of the surrounding tissues, and postoperative spinal instability. In addition, if part of the tumor is left behind, the risk of recurrence should be considered in the treatment strategy. This study aimed to understand the key anatomical features and surgical techniques to choose the optimal approach for spinal extramedullary tumors, including dumbbell-shaped schwannomas and ventral meningiomas, which require a safer and more secure surgical approach.