Calcified Spinal Meningiomas.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze outcomes of patients surgically treated for calcified spinal meningiomas and to determine factors associated with surgical morbidity.


METHODS
Between January 2000 and June 2013, a total of 54 patients underwent surgical resection of a spinal meningioma: 37 of these cases showed various degrees of calcification, confirmed by histopathologic analysis. The clinical evaluation was performed according to the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale. At the last follow-up, neurologic status improved in 19 cases and remained unchanged in 20 cases; just 1 case worsened. According to the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale, neurologic status was classified into 3 levels: poor (A + B), fair (C), and good (D + E). Neurologic status improvement (NSI) during postoperative time (considered as a transition from one lower level to the higher) was analyzed in relationship to the patient's age, length of clinical history, spine level, meningioma's position inside the spinal canal, and its degree of calcification.


RESULTS
A statistically significant relationship between NSI and the degree of ossification of the meningioma was observed. in particular, a direct relationship with microcalcified meningiomas and an inverse relationship with ossified meningiomas. No relationship was observed between NSI and patient's age, length of clinical history, and the site of the lesion into the vertebral canal.


CONCLUSIONS
The univariate analysis confirms that the degree of calcification affects the outcome, because extensive tumor calcification is associated with an increased surgical morbidity probably.
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurosurgery Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Andrea Gennaro
AG
Ruggeri
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurosurgery Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: benedettafazzolari@gmail.com.
Benedetta
B
Fazzolari
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurosurgery Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Davide
D
Colistra
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurosurgery Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Martina
M
Cappelletti
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurosurgery Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Nicola
N
Marotta
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurosurgery Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Roberto
R
Delfini
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Calcification; Calcified meningioma; Meningioma; Ossified meningioma; Outcome; Spinal meningioma