title: Spinal meningiomas: recurrence in ventrally located individuals on long-term follow-up; a review of 46 operated cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgical removal of spinal meningiomas is usually not difficult. In     neurosurgical practice, their locations and growing patterns may affect surgical     results. Ventrally located and en plaque meningiomas may not be removed totally.     The aim of this study was to present the results of surgery in cases with spinal     meningiomas, and reveal the factors affecting outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 46 cases operated between January 1995 and December 2009 in single     clinic. There were 33 female and 13 male patients. The mean age was 52. All     patients underwent microsurgical resection using posterior approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total resection was obtained in 38 patients (82%). Twenty-eight (61%) patients     experienced clinical improvement after surgery. The tumor was completely dorsal     to the spinal cord in 30 cases, dorsolateral in nine and ventral to the spinal     cord in seven cases. We experienced eight recurrences (17%). Recurrences were     seen most commonly seen in ventrally located tumors (62%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complete     resection of spinal meningiomas seems to produce a good clinical outcome.     Recently, advances in microneurosurgery and neuroimaging techniques have     resulted in decreases in morbidity and recurrence rates in spinal meningiomas.
authors.affiliation: Bakırkoy Psychiatric Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey. postalcil@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Lutfu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Postalci
authors.forename: Bekir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tugcu
authors.forename: Abuzer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gungor
authors.forename: Gucluhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guclu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult