title: Surgery of intradural extramedullary tumors: retrospective analysis of 107 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intradural extramedullary tumors (IDEMTs) are uncommon lesions that cause pain and neurological deficits.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of surgery for IDEMTs.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cohort study recruited all patients operated on for IDEMTs at the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry of Sapienza University of Rome from January 2003 to January 2013. The analysis was conducted on clinical records evaluation over a 1-year follow-up. The Graphic Rating Scale was used to assess pain. Neurological deficits were detected through neurological examination. Quality of life was evaluated with the EuroQol (EQ-5D). Statistical interpretation of the data was performed with SPSS version 19 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seven patients were recruited. Three were lost to follow-up. Patients reported lower level of pain 1 year after surgery (before surgery, 6.05; after surgery, 3.65). Mean comparison showed a significant decrease of -2.400 (P < .001). Ninety-two patients (88.5%) were neurologically asymptomatic 1 year after surgery. Only 12 patients (11.5%) presented with a deficit, with a global decrease of 39% (χ(2) = 27.6; P < .005). The quality of life in patients was middle to high (mean rating of EQ-5D visual analog score, 61.78%). The lowest levels of quality of life were found in patients with sphincter dysfunctions (mean, 33.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery for IDEMTs has a good outcome. Patients reported lower levels of pain and a drastic reduction in neurological symptoms 1 year after surgery. The quality of life is middle to high. It is influenced mainly by the neurological outcome.
authors: *Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Division of Neurosurgery, and ‡Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialization Processes, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Tarantino
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Donnarumma
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Nigro
authors: Marika
authors: M
authors: Rullo
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Santoro
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Delfini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*