title: Central neurogenic tumours of the thoracic region.
abstract: Of special concern in the management of neurogenic tumours arising in the thorax is spinal-cord compression resulting from either intraspinal lesions or vertebral-body destruction and collapse. A review of 16 cases disclosed three dumbbell tumours, six intrathoracic tumours, one case of neurofibromatosis with multiple intraspinal neurogenic tumours, two malignant neurogenic tumours with vertebral-body destruction causing spinal-cord compression and four foraminal lesions with central intraspinal (extradural) extension. There were 3 men and 13 women, ranging in age at the time of operation from 37 to 79 years. Three patients, of the six with intrathoracic tumours, were asymptomatic; the remaining 13 had preoperative symptoms ranging in duration from 3 weeks to 12 months (average, 9 months). Back pain with intercostal neuralgia was present in eight patients and neurologic signs were present in six patients. A routine chest radiograph was abnormal in 10 patients, and x-rays of the thoracic spine were abnormal in 4 of the other 6 patients. The tumour was excised surgically in all patients. Complications developed postoperatively in two patients: one had Horner's syndrome, transient paraparesis and bleeding; the other had a small subarachnoid-cutaneous fistula. The authors conclude that dumbbell neurogenic tumours and those causing vertebral-body destruction and collapse demand a multidisciplinary one-stage surgical approach. If the lesion is malignant and resection is not complete, radiotherapy or chemotherapy is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ont.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Shamji
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vallières
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Benoit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery