title: Transoral kyphoplasty for tumors in C2.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The management of tumors of the C2 body remains controversial. In cancer patients, major procedures may be contraindicated, and nonoperative treatment could fail.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe a new surgical technique, the transoral kyphoplasty, that we performed in 3 cases of tumors in C2 after nonoperative treatment failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series of three patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients from the senior author's practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  To reduce pain and avoid both C2 collapse and prolonged immobilization, transoral kyphoplasties were performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February 2004 to January 2006, three cases of tumors in C2 did not show healing after nonoperative treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No complications and/or complaints were related to the procedure. There were no C2-related symptoms or neurological problems. The first patient died 8 months after surgery. The second and the third are alive with follow-ups of 2 years and 6 months, respectively. In all cases, cervical motion was restored, and patients are pain free, with no findings regarding pathologic mobility/instability on X-ray and computed tomography scan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transoral kyphoplasty proved to be safe, quick, and effective in reducing pain and avoiding vertebral collapse in patients with tumors in C2 not responding to nonoperative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Sandro Agostini Spine Surgery Unit, Padua University Hospital, via Giustiniani 3, 35128, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele A Fabris
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Monterumici
authors.forename: Surendra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narne
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nena
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinigaglia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001368:Axis, Cervical Vertebra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000379:methods*