Removal of Intradural-Extramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors with Unilateral Limited Laminectomy

Total laminectomy for the removal of intradural-extramedullary spinal cord tumors has been used widely, but postoperative complications often develop, such as kyphosis, spinal instability, and persistent back pain. In this study, we evaluated seven patients with intradural-extramedullary spinal cord tumors with respect to the value of unilateral limited laminectomy. Our cases included six schwannomas, and one meningioma. The cervical region was involved in four cases, the thoracolumbar region in two cases, and the lumbar region in one case. The rationale for choosing a unilateral approach is to preserve musculoligamentous attachments and posterior bony elements as much as possible. The patients were mobilized on the third postoperative day and preoperative neurological symptoms were recovered within a few weeks. We did not observe any complication relating to unilateral limited laminectomy and at follow-up evaluation (at 3 and 12 months postoperatively), none of the patients showed spinal deformity or spinal instability. We think that the unilateral limited laminectomy is a safe and efficient technique for the treatment of intradural-extramedullary spinal cord tumors. We suggest that this technique is one of the best treatments for these tumors.

Does Age Influence the Poor Prognosis after Aneurysmal SAH Surgery in Elderly Patients?

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage has been increasing. At the same time, surgical results for elderly patients are unsatisfactory and no guidelines of treatment are available. We carried out a study comparing variable factors and surgical results between young and old age groups to find ways to improve prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out on 754 patients who were operated on between 1990 and 2004 by the same surgeon in our hospital. The patients were divided into seven groups according to age: 93 patients below 40 years of age (Group I), 419 patients aged 40~59 (Group II), 115 patients aged 60~64 (Group III), 82 patients aged 65~69 (Group IV), 28 patients aged 70~74 (Group V), 12 patients aged 75~79 (Group VI) and 5 patients over the age of 80 (Group VII). We then checked their medical history, Fisher's grade, Hunt-Hess grade, postoperative complications, and Glasgow Outcome Scale. RESULTS: Age was not a statistically significant factor among patients below 70 years of age (P value> or =0.05). But for those aged 70 and older, the age factor had a statistical value (P value< or =0.001). In addition, there was a close correlation between Hunt-Hess grade IV and V patients, and those with vasospasm, and hydrocephalus after surgery, with poor prognosis in elderly patients as well as young patients (P value< or =0.001). CONCLUSION: Advanced age (under the age of 70) dose not precluded adequate surgical treatment in patient with AN SAH, and we should be also alert to preventable causes of delayed neurological deterioration for improving the outcome in all elderly groups.

Cystic Hemangiopericytoma in the Third Ventricle

Primary intracranial hemangiopericytoma is rare and resemble meningioma on imaging study. It shows meningeal attachment, and is usually isointense with gray matter on T1-weighted MR image with heterogeneous enhancement and prominent vascular flow voids on T2-weighted image. Cystic type of hemangiopericytoma is very rare and only 3 cases have been reported in the literature which arised in the middle fossa, cerebellum, and occipital area. Ventricular hemangiopericytomas were reported in 9 cases, and all of them were solid type. Authors experienced a peculiar case of cystic hemangiopericytoma in the 3rd ventricle and report it with review of the literature.