title: Progression of paralysis is the most useful factor for differentiating malignant from benign intramedullary tumors.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical factors for differentiating malignant from benign intramedullary spinal cord tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Niigata, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective review of charts and images. Preoperative paralysis including walking ability, urinary function, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and pathological diagnosis were evaluated in 33 consecutive cases of intramedullary spinal cord tumor, and the clinical factors that were useful for differentiating malignant from benign tumors were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early progression of paralysis was the most valuable feature for differentiating malignant from benign tumors. Malignant tumors were suspected in only three of ten cases on the basis of MRI findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simple assessment of walking ability is easy to perform and is useful for predicting the pathological malignancy of intramedullary tumors of the spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Niigata City General Hospital, Niigata, Japan. itakui@me.com
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawakami
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kakita
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D016138:Walking