[Primary spinal cord tumours. An analysis of a series of 168 patients].
BACKGROUND
Primary intraspinal tumours comprise between 10 and 15% of all central nervous system tumours. Classically are classified into three groups, based on its location; namely: extradural, intradural extramedullary, and intramedurally spinal tumours.


METHODS
We review retrospectively 173 intradural spinal tumours (in 168 patients) operated between 1980-2004. Age, sex, duration and type of symptoms, topographical locations, radiological and surgical results, histological features and outcome are analyzed.


RESULTS
We treated 58 intramedullary tumours in 57 patients (34 female and 23 male). The mean age was 61.4 years-old. In 12 cases the tumour was sited in the cervical tract, 33 cases in the dorsal tract, and 13 in the lumbo-sacral tract. The most common histological types were ependimomas (26 cases) and astrocitoma (16 cases). Total removal of the lesion was possible in 36 patients (63.1%). In 111 patients the tumour were extramedullary (64 females and 47 males) with a mean age of 55.2 years-old. The most frequent location was the dorsal tract (63 cases) and the most common histological types were meningiomas (57 cases) and schwannomas (53 cases). Total removal of the lesion was possible in 109 patients (98.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
Determinants predictors of a good outcome after surgery for spinal cord tumours are histological type of lesion, complete removal of the lesion, and a satisfactory neurological status before surgery.
Gelabert-González
M
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Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Neurológical Pedro Barrié de la Maza, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, España. cimigego@usc.es
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome