title: Surgical treatment of primary intramedullary spinal cord tumors in adult patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary spinal cord intramedullary tumors are rare and present with insidious symptoms. Previous treatment protocols emphasized biopsy and radiation/chemotherapy but more aggressive protocols have emerged.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report our experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight patients were diagnosed with primary intramedullary tumors. The cervical cord was involved in 27% and thoracic in 42% of patients. Complete microsurgical removal was attempted whenever possible without added neurological morbidity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete resection was obtained in 33 (71%) patients. Neurological function remained stable or improved in 32 patients (66.7%). Ependymoma was the most frequent tumor (66.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neurological outcome is superior in patients with subtle findings; aggressive microsurgical resection should be pursued with acceptable neurological outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mario Augusto
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Taricco
authors.forename: Vinicius Monteiro de Paula
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Guirado
authors.forename: Ricardo Bragança de Vasconcellos
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Fontes
authors.forename: José Pindaro Pereira
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Plese
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D016896:Treatment Outcome