Results of Surgical Treatment of Cervical Dumbbell Tumors

Abstract

PUTH classification covers all tumor types and is easier to remember. It is practical and useful for determining the surgical approach. The recurrence rate decreases significantly after radial tumor resection. Revision surgeries are associated with more complications.

Posterior Hemi-/Laminectomy and Facetectomy Approach for the Treatment of Dumbbell-Shaped Schwannomas in the Subaxial Cervical Spine: A Retrospective Study of 26 Cases

“…Jiang et al [9] reported that 6 of 12 patients who underwent posterior laminectomy and unilateral facetectomy without fusion presented spine deformity at the final follow-up. Similarly, McCormick [11] reported that 2 patients who had laminectomy and unilateral facetectomy without fusion developed a straightening or mild reversal of the normal cervical lordosis within short-term follow-up.…”

“…This study focused on the surgical treatment for Eden types 2 and 3. There is still great controversy about the approach used for the removal of these 2 types of tumors [4, 9]. Jiang et al [8] classified the dumbbell tumors into 7 types on the basis of Eden’s classification and according to the tumor size in the external vertebra, whether tumor invades into the vertebra, the relationship between the location of the intraspinal tumor and the spine cord, and so on.…”

“…The choice for a surgical approach for dumbbell tumors in cervical spine remains controversial [4, 9]. The one-stage anterior approach was reported to remove the dumbbell tumors including the intra-dural components [14].…”

“…Due to the constriction of the lateral mass joint, getting access to the dumbbell schwannomas in the subaxial cervical spine is more difficult than when the schwannomas are located in the atlas and axis. The surgical approach used for treating subaxial schwannomas that are both intra- and extra-foraminal is both difficult and controversial [9]. The strategy includes anterior approach, anterolateral approach, posterior approach, and the combined anterior-posterior approach.…”

Application of the Hemi-Semi-Laminectomy Approach in the Microsurgical Treatment of C2 Schwannomas

“…1 The schwannomas originating from the C2 nerve are unique because of the unique anatomic structure of the atlas and axis. 1,[5][6][7][8] The incidence of craniocervical or cervical instability related to C1 and C2 laminectomy has been reported. 1,[5][6][7][8] The incidence of craniocervical or cervical instability related to C1 and C2 laminectomy has been reported.…”