Management of intramedullary spinal cord lesions: interdependence of the longitudinal extension of the lesion and the functional outcome

Ebner, Florian; Röser, Florian; Falk, Markus; Hermann, Sabine; Honegger, Juergen; Tatagiba, Marcos

doi:10.1007/s00586-009-1232-1

Cited by 23 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…16,21 The length of the myelotomy was found to correlate with postoperative sensory dysfunctions in several studies. 4,5,19,30 The only tumors which could be removed without inflicting such sensory disturbances were those that had reached the pia mater or grown out of the cord in exophytic fashion. In such cases, the tumor could be entered directly without requiring a myelotomy (Fig.…”

Section: Surgical Morbiditymentioning

confidence: 99%

Spinal ependymomas. Part 1: Intramedullary ependymomas

Klekamp

2015

FOC

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OBJECT Ependymomas represent the most common intramedullary tumor in adults. Despite their usually well-defined dissection plane, surgical morbidity has been documented to be considerably higher compared with other intramedullary entities. This study presents an analysis of risk factors for surgical morbidity and data on long-term results for intramedullary ependymomas. METHODS Among 1447 patients with tumors of the spinal canal treated between 1980 and 2014, 309 patients presented with intramedullary tumors. One hundred patients with intramedullary ependymomas underwent 102 operations. Mean age was 44 ± 15 years (range 8–74 years). Patients were followed by outpatient visits and questionnaires, with a mean follow-up of 77 ± 91 months. Short-term results were determined for individual symptoms and the McCormick Scale, whereas tumor recurrence rates were calculated with Kaplan-Meier statistics. RESULTS Compared with cervical ependymomas, those of the thoracic spine were associated with more severe motor deficits and gait problems at presentation. A total of 86.3% of patients with intramedullary ependymomas underwent gross-total resection (GTR). A low preoperative McCormick grade and first surgery were the strongest predictors for a GTR. Postoperatively, 67.6% of patients demonstrated a worse neurological state at discharge from the hospital. This deterioration was transient for 40.1% of the patients and permanent for 27.5%. In the long term, the McCormick grade remained unchanged from the preoperative grade in 74.5% of patients, while it was improved in 5.9% of patients and increased after surgery in 19.6% of patients. According to a multivariate analysis, the risk of permanent morbidity increased with a thoracic level of the ependymoma, advanced age, a long clinical history, presence of a tumor hemorrhage, and surgery on a recurrent tumor. In the long term, tumor recurrence rates correlated significantly with the amount of resection (4.2% and 18.5% in 20 years after GTR and partial resections, respectively). Postoperative neuropathic pain syndromes affected 37.0% of patients, whereas 4% demonstrated a postoperative myelopathy related to cord tethering at the level of surgery. CONCLUSIONS Intramedullary ependymomas are tumors best treated surgically. A complete resection indicates cure for the overwhelming majority of these patients. Surgery should be performed early by neurosurgeons who deal with these lesions on a regular basis to achieve high GTR rates. Permanent surgical morbidity varies most according to tumor location and patient age.

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Section: Surgical Morbiditymentioning

confidence: 99%

Spinal ependymomas. Part 1: Intramedullary ependymomas

Klekamp

2015

FOC

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“…Significantly, longitudinal tumor span was not associated with adverse survival outcomes, indicating that even extensive multisegment intramedullary tumors can be resected with minimal adverse impact on disease survival, consistent with earlier reports. 10,12,47 …”

Section: Additional Factors Associated With Os and Pfsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term disease and neurological outcomes in patients with pediatric intramedullary spinal cord tumors

Ahmed¹,

Menezes²,

Awe³

et al. 2014

PED

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Object Radical resection is recommended as the first-line treatment for pediatric intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs), but it is associated with morbidity, including risk of neurological decline and development of postoperative spinal deformity. The authors report long-term data on clinical and treatment determinants affecting disease survival and neurological outcomes. Methods Case records for pediatric patients (< 21 years of age at presentation) who underwent surgery for IMSCTs at the authors' institution between January 1975 and January 2010 were analyzed. The patients' demographic and clinical characteristics (including baseline neurological condition), the treatment they received, and their disease course were reviewed. Long-term disease survival and functional outcome measures were analyzed. Results A total of 55 patients (30 male and 25 female) were identified. The mean duration of follow-up (± SEM) was 11.4 ± 1.3 years (median 9.3 years, range 0.2–37.2 years). Astrocytomas were the most common tumor subtype (29 tumors [53%]). Gross-total resection (GTR) was achieved in 21 (38%) of the 55 patients. At the most recent follow-up, 30 patients (55%) showed neurological improvement, 17 (31%) showed neurological decline, and 8 (15%) remained neurologically stable. Patients presenting with McCormick Grade I were more likely to show functional improvement by final follow-up (p = 0.01) than patients who presented with Grades II–V. Kaplan-Meier actuarial tumor progression-free survival rates at 5, 10, and 20 years were 61%, 54%, and 44%, respectively; the overall survival rates were 85% at 5 years, 74% at 10 years, and 64% at 20 years. On multivariate analysis, GTR (p = 0.04) and tumor histological grade (p = 0.02) were predictive of long-term survival; GTR was also associated with improved 5-year progression-free survival (p = 0.01). Conclusions The prognosis for pediatric IMSCTs is favorable with sustained functional improvement expected in a significant proportion of patients on long-term follow-up. Long-term survival at 10 years (75%) and 20 years (64%) is associated with aggressive resection. Gross-total resection was also associated with improved 5-year progression-free survival (86%). Hence, the treatment benefits of GTR are sustained on extended follow-up.

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“…The longitudinal extent and, thus, the length of the myelotomy were found to correlate with postoperative sensory dysfunctions in several studies. 11,17,58 The only tumors that could be removed without inflicting sensory disturbances were those that had reached the pia mater, displacing all cord tissue to either side as they grew. In such cases, resections required no separate myelotomy and the tumor could be entered directly.…”

Section: Postoperative Sensory Dysfunctionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treatment of intramedullary tumors: analysis of surgical morbidity and long-term results

Klekamp

2013

SPI

109

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Object Surgery of intramedullary tumors is established as the treatment of choice for these challenging lesions. This study presents a detailed analysis of risk factors for surgical morbidity and data on long-term results for intramedullary tumors. Methods Among 1317 patients with tumors of the spinal canal treated between 1980 and 2012, 278 patients with intramedullary tumors are presented. A total of 225 of these patients underwent 246 operations for treatment of 250 tumors. The mean patient age was 41 ± 17 years (range 3 weeks to 83 years). Patients underwent follow-up through outpatient visits and questionnaires with a mean follow-up of 41 ± 53 months. Tumors were subdivided into 3 groups: displacing tumors (Type A, n = 162), infiltrating tumors (Type B, n = 80), and nonproliferating tumors (Type C, n = 8). A gross-total resection (GTR) was attempted for every tumor except for Type C lipomas. Participating surgeons were divided into 3 groups according to the number of operations they performed. Short-term results were determined for individual symptoms and the modified McCormick Scale, whereas tumor recurrence rates were calculated with Kaplan-Meier statistics. Results Overall, 83.3% of Type A tumors underwent GTR compared with 22.5% of Type B and none in Type C. Gross-total resection rates increased throughout the study period and correlated significantly with surgical experience. A worsened neurological state after surgery was seen in 61% of patients. This deterioration was transient in 41.5% and was a common observation after GTR. Permanent morbidity (19.5%) was lowest after GTR and correlated significantly with surgical experience and the preoperative neurological state. Further analysis showed that patients with tumors of thoracic levels, tumor hemorrhages, and malignant and recurrent tumors were at a higher risk for permanent morbidity. In the long term, tumor recurrence rates for ependymomas and benign astrocytomas correlated significantly with the amount of resection. Long-term morbidity affected 3.7% with a postoperative myelopathy related to cord tethering at the level of surgery and 21.9% in form of neuropathic pain syndromes. The rate of postsurgical cord tethering could be lowered significantly by using pia sutures after tumor resection. Neuropathic pain syndromes were more common after surgery for tumors with associated syringomyelia or those located in the cervical cord. Conclusions Intramedullary tumors should be surgically treated as soon as neurological symptoms appear. Gross-total resection is possible for the majority of benign pathologies. Cervical tumors are associated with higher GTR and lower permanent morbidity rates compared with thoracic tumors. Surgery on intramedullary tumors should be performed by neurosurgeons who deal with these lesions on a regular basis as considerable experience is required to achieve high GTR rates and to limit rates of permanent morbidity.

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Management of intramedullary spinal cord lesions: interdependence of the longitudinal extension of the lesion and the functional outcome

Cited by 23 publications

References 17 publications

Spinal ependymomas. Part 1: Intramedullary ependymomas

Spinal ependymomas. Part 1: Intramedullary ependymomas

Long-term disease and neurological outcomes in patients with pediatric intramedullary spinal cord tumors

Treatment of intramedullary tumors: analysis of surgical morbidity and long-term results

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