title: [Microsurgical treatment of multi-segment cervical intramedullary ependymomas].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the microsurgical skills of multi-segment cervical ependymomas and evaluate preoperative and postoperative neurological functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 61 patients with multi-segment cervical ependymoma from January 2008 to July 2013 at our hospital were analyzed to summarize their clinical features, imaging findings, diagnosis, tumor resection and changes of neurological functions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total (n = 58) and subtotal (n = 3) resections were performed. And postoperative nerve functions unchanged (n = 43) and aggravated (n = 18). There was no mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Proper planning and refined microsurgical techniques are essential in the treatment of multi-segment cervical ependymomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Chunliang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Lichao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
authors.forename: Like
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China. Email: limeihua2000@sina.com.
authors.forename: Meihua
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult