Neoplasms involving the spinal cord in Zimbabweans: an analysis of 262 cases

A review of 262 histologically verified spinal cord tumours in Black Zimbabweans who were operated on in Harare Central and Parirenyatwa Hospitals, Harare, Zimbabwe during the period 1st January 1972 to 31st December 1991 is presented. Fifty one pc of the neoplasms were found in the thoracic region, 53.4 pc were found extradurally, and of these the majority were metastatic (52 pc) and malignant tumours (85 pc). Most (96 pc) intradural-extramedullary tumours were benign with Schwannomas as the largest group (54 pc). Malignant astrocytomas presented as 71.4 pc of all intramedullary tumours. Metastatic tumours represented 28.6 pc of all spinal cord tumours. The most common sites of metastasis were from liver, thyroid and prostate.