title: Spinal meningiomas: critical review of 131 surgically treated patients.
abstract: This study was undertaken to analyze the functional outcome of surgically treated spinal meningiomas and to determine factors for surgical morbidity. Between January 1990 and December 2006 a total of 131 patients underwent surgical resection of a spinal menigioma. There were 114 (87%) female and 17 (13%) male patients. Age ranged from 17 to 88 years (mean 69 years). The mean follow-up period was 61 months (range 1-116 months) including a complete neurological examination and postoperative MRI studies. The pre- and postoperative neurological state was graded according to the Frankel Scale. Surgery was performed under standard microsurgical conditions with neurophysiological monitoring. In 73% the lesion was located in the thoracic region, in 16% in the cervical region, in 5% at the cervico-thoracic junction, in 4.5% at the thoraco-lumbar junction and in 1.5% in the lumbar region. Surgical resection was complete in 127 patients (97%) and incomplete in 4 patients (3%). At the last follow-up the neurological state was improved or unchanged in 126 patients (96.2%) and worse in 4 patients (3%). Permanent operative morbidity and mortality rates were 3 and 0.8%, respectively. Extensive tumour calcification proved to be a significant factor for surgical morbidity (P < 0.0001). Radical resection of spinal meningiomas can be performed with good functional results. Extensive tumor calcification, especially in elderly patients proved to harbor an increased risk for surgical morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Neurochirurgische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122, Essen, Germany. sandalcioglu@uk-essen.de
authors.forename: I Erol
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Sandalcioglu
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hunold
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Hischam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bassiouni
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stolke
authors.forename: Siamak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asgari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors