Combined laminectomy and thoracoscopic resection of dumbbell-type thoracic cord tumor.
METHODS
A study of five patients whose dumbbell or paraspinal tumors of the thoracic spine were managed by using thoracoscopic surgery is reported.


OBJECTIVE
To report on the use of combined laminectomy and thoracoscopic resection for the management of dumbbell-type thoracic cord tumor.


BACKGROUND
Some posterior mediastinal tumors can be resected safely with video-assisted thoracic surgery. However, there are few reports on thoracoscopic resection of dumbbell and paraspinal tumors of the thoracic spine.


METHODS
Five patients who received treatment for thoracic spine dumbbell tumors and paraspinal tumors were studied retrospectively. Three patients had dumbbell tumors, and two had paraspinal tumors of the thoracic spine. Preoperative evaluation of each patient included plain chest radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography. All patients underwent total resection by means of a combined posteroanterior approach, with thoracoscopic surgery for dumbbell tumors and thoracoscopic surgery alone for paraspinal tumors. In all patients, a gross total resection was achieved with this approach. All patients were observed for a minimum of 3 years.


RESULTS
All patients regained their ability to walk 2 days after surgery, except for one patient who had a hemothorax. A gross total tumor resection, documented by magnetic resonance imaging, was performed on all patients. Follow-up imaging at 6 weeks, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after surgery did not show residual tumor or recurrence in any patient. To date, spinal instability has not developed in any patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined laminectomy and thoracoscopic surgery may be a good alternative method for managing thoracic dumbbell tumors.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima City, Japan. fortho@fmu.ac.jp
S
S
Konno
S
S
Yabuki
T
T
Kinoshita
S
S
Kikuchi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005729:Ganglioneuroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome