A retrospective case series of primary spinal tumours at the national spinal injuries unit

Primary extradural tumours of the spine are a rare group of spinal tumours. Current literature reporting demographic variables and prognostic information is limited. No prior Irish database has comprehensively compiled this data.

To create the first database in Ireland reporting the demographics and outcome information of extradural spinal tumours in Ireland.

Retrospective case series analysing population-based data from the National Spinal Injuries Unit from 1992-2021. ICD-10 codes C41.2 and C41.4 were used to extract data from the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital databases, reporting demographics, treatment, and survival outcomes.

31 extradural spinal tumours were identified. Chondrosarcomas were the most common tumour subtype (26%), with chordomas and giant cell tumours both the second most common subtypes (16%). The thoracic spine was the predominant location (51.6%). The mean patient age was 44.4 years, with a male predominance (65%). Surgical excision was performed in all cases, with a complication rate of 74.2% and a recurrence of 48.4%. Cervical tumours had significantly higher recurrence (100%) than non-cervical (40.7%, p = 0.043). Overall mortality was 22.6%, with 5-year survival highest for cervical and sacral tumours (100%) and lowest for lumbar (66.7%) and thoracic tumours (72.2%).

Primary extradural spinal tumours are rare tumours but impose a significant healthcare burden, as evidenced by prolonged hospital stays and complication rates. Management requires a multidisciplinary approach in a specialist centre. The underutilisation and variability of adjuvant therapies in this cohort underscores the need for further research and development of standardised multimodal treatment protocols.