ABSTRACT
This is a retrospective study of 20 patients with severe cervical spondylotic radiculomyelopathy. The routine radiological investigation are CT scan with contrast and NMR imaging. The radiological findings in cases of spondylotic radiculomyelopathy of various stages and degrees fall into three groups. Group A, the axial views show an anterior central or paracentral circumscribed lesion indenting and deforming the cord surface obliterating the subarachnoid space only at the site of compression. The sagittal views confirm these findings. Group B, the axial views demonstrate a linear diffuse lesion either or both anterior and posterior to the cord. The latter is deformed and flattened towards the coronal plane. The surrounding subarachnoid space is thinned, irregular or obliterated all around it. The sagittal views show hour glass indentations of the cord. Group C, the axial views and also the sagittal views show a combination of the aforementioned data
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Laminectomy/methodsABSTRACT
Total removal of craniopharyngioma in children is one school of surgical treatment of this lesion. This procedure is unsafe and highly risky and should not be regarded as the primary goal of surgery in such cases. 13 children with craniopharyngoinas were treated from January 1975 to January 1995. Total removal was feasible in 5 cases, subtotal or partial excision in 7 cases and only a biopsy was taken from the remaining case. Recurrent tumors were treated by aspiration or subtotal excision. Irradiation was done to 7 cases of partial or subtotal excision, one of them was a recurrence. 5 cases died postoperatively [3 from intraoperative complications, one from meningitis and the last case most probably from endocrinological deficit]. The study aimed in all cases to do total or radical removal. Certain clinical data are presented to challenge and dissuade against the school of total removal of craniopharyngioma