title: [Tumours of the upper cervical spine].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vertebral tumours arising in the upper cervical spine are rare. We present our experience in managing these neoplasms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the case histories of patients treated at our institution between January 2000 and June 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 9 patients with tumours in C1-C2-C3: 2metastases, 3chordomas, 2plasmocytomas, 1chondrosarcoma and 1osteochondroma. All patients complained of neck pain at the time of diagnosis. Three patients underwent an anterior and posterior approach, 3 an exclusively posterior approach and 3 an exclusively anterior surgical approach. Tumour resection was intralesional in 7 cases. Chemo-radiotherapy was used as adjuvant therapy in patients with malignant tumours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vertebral tumours in the upper cervical spine are usually malignant. Achieving en bloc resection is particularly challenging and is technically unfeasible in many cases. This worsens the prognosis and makes adjuvant treatment very important.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España. Electronic address: borjajhega@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Borja Jesús
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hernández García
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Isla Guerrero
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castaño
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alvarez Ruiz
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez de la Riva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Cervical spine; Chondrosarcoma; Chordoma; Columna cervical; Condrosarcoma; Cordoma; Metastasis; Metástasis; Osteochondroma; Osteocondroma; Plasmocitoma; Plasmocytoma