title: Spinal tumours of childhood.
abstract: Spinal tumours in children have different features and require different management than in adults; 20 patients under the age of 14 years are reported--the common presenting features were limb weakness, pain and spinal deformity. Eight tumours were extradural and 12 intradural of which 3 were intramedullary. The 6 patients who did not do well postoperatively were found to have a malignant tumour or were completely paraplegic or quadriplegic before surgery. If detected and treated early, results are excellent in many cases, since the tumours are usually benign.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery