title: Management of spinal tumors in neurofibromatosis type 2 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine clinical characteristics of NF2 patients with spinal lesions and to define when and like the spinal tumors are a major problem in the treatment of patients with NF2.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical records, neuroimaging studies, and follow-up data of the 34 patients with neurofibromatosis type 2, who were treated at our institution between 1998 and 2014. 23 patients harbored one or multiple spinal tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with spinal tumors had a lower age at first symptoms of the disease, a higher number of intracranial meningiomas and non-vestibular schwannomas. 11 patients had one or more intramedullary tumors with MRI characteristics of spinal ependymomas. 22 patients had intradural extramedullary tumors. 7 patients presented with symptomatic spinal tumors on admission or developed symptoms during the follow-up. Only two intramedullary and four extramedullary tumors demonstrated growth in the mean radiological follow-up period of over 6 years. It was found that symptomatic both intra- and extramedullary tumors were associated with younger age at the onset of NF2-related symptoms. 2 patients with intramedullary tumors and 12 patients with extramedullary tumors underwent their tumors resection. In case of symptomatic tumors partial recovery was observed in two patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that close surveillance with MR imaging is a reasonable option for asymptomatic spinal tumors. Nevertheless, intramedullary tumor removal in non-growing and asymptomatic cases may be an option when ABI implantation is considered. Symptomatic tumors and those of documented growth should be eligible for surgical intervention.
authors: Klinika Neurochirurgii, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Poland. Electronic address: arkady.n@wp.pl.
authors: Arkadiusz
authors: A
authors: Nowak
authors: Klinika Neurochirurgii, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Poland.
authors: Tomasz
authors: T
authors: Dziedzic
authors: Klinika Neurochirurgii, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Poland.
authors: Tomasz
authors: T
authors: Czernicki
authors: Klinika Neurochirurgii, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Poland.
authors: Przemysław
authors: P
authors: Kunert
authors: Klinika Neurochirurgii, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Poland.
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Marchel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016518:Neurofibromatosis 2 / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Natural history; Neurofibromatosis type 2; Spinal tumor