Surgical Extent of Metastatic Spine Tumor Excision and Its Effects on Postoperative Ambulatory Function: Comparison of Extensive Wide versus Palliative Excision Surgery

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To compare surgical outcomes such as the ambulatory period and survival according to different surgical excision tactics for metastatic spine tumors (MSTs). SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Surgical outcomes, such as pain relief and survival, in patients with MSTs have been reported in several studies, but the effects of differences in surgical extent on the ambulatory period have rarely been reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six patients with MSTs who underwent palliative (n=60) or extensive wide excision (n=36) were included. Palliative excision was defined as partial removal of the tumor as an intralesional piecemeal procedure for decompression. Extensive wide excision was defined as a surgical attempt to remove the whole tumor at the index level as completely as possible. The primary outcome was the ambulatory period following surgery. Other demographic and radiographic parameters were analyzed to identify the risk factors for loss of ambulatory ability and survival. Perioperative complications were also assessed. RESULTS: The mean postoperative ambulatory period was longer in the extensive wide excision group (average 14.8 months) than in the palliative excision group (average 11.7 months) (p=0.021). The survival rates were not significantly different between the two surgical excision groups (p=0.680). However, postoperative ambulatory status and major complications within 30 days postoperatively were significant prognostic factors for survival (p=0.003 and p=0.032, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The extent of surgical excision affected the ambulatory period, and the complication rates were similar, regardless of surgical excision tactics. A proper surgical strategy to achieve postoperative ambulatory ability and to reduce perioperative complications would have a favorable effect on survival.

Surgical Extent of Thyroidectomy for Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma / 대한내분비외과학회지

The incidence of PTMC (papillary thyroid microcarcinoma) has rapidly increased recently due to the application of ultrasonography to the thyroid. The good prognosis of PTMC is well known with a mortality rate of less than 1%. However, there is controversy about the surgical extent of thyroidectomy for PTMC patients between surgeons and endocrinologists due to differences in understanding the clinical properties of PTMC, while having a difference in basic concepts in the treatment and follow up strategy for PTMC patients. Total thyroidectomy is recommended for PTMC patients because there is no major difference in the rate of lymph node metastasis, extrathyroidal extension, multiplicity between the PTMC and PTC over 1 cm in size and although rare, occasional distant metastasis and mortality cases could be developed. However, there is no evidence of benefit of total thyroidectomy for the survival rate of PTMC patients. The microscopic lymph node metastasis and extrathyroidal extension are not prognostic factors for the survival or recurrence in PTMC. The clinical lateral neck lymph node metastasis and multiplicity has been proposed as valuable prognostic factors in micropapillary carcinoma and these factors could be assessed accurately by ultrasonography preoperatively. A decision on the proper extent of thyroidectomy could be possible in most PTMC patients. This article summarizes available data and concludes that routine total thyroidectomy for PTMC patients is not rational.

Surgical Results of Intramedullary Spinal Cord Ependymomas in Adults: Retrospective Analysis of 51 Cases

OBJECTIVE: The goal of treatment for spinal cord ependymoma is complete removal without postoperative neurological deficit. The authors analyzed the surgical results and factors influencing the postoperative prognosis. METHODS: Fifty-one cases of primary spinal cord ependymoma, surgically treated between 1979 and 2003, were retrospectively analyzed. The mean follow-up period was 44 months. RESULTS: Gross total removal was achieved in 42 patients and incomplete removal in nine. The proportion of complete surgical removals was influenced by tumor location and histology. Disease progression was observed in five cases (9.8%), the mean progression free interval after surgical removal was 48 months and the 5-year progression free rate was 68%. Disease progression was found in none of the 42 cases who underwent complete removal, and in 5 of 9 cases who hadincomplete removal group (P<0.001). Statistically significant disease-progression factors by multivariate analysis were the surgical extent of removal (P=0.012), preoperative functional status (P=0.032), the presence of intratumoral cysts (P=0.007) and postoperative radiation therapy (P=0.042). Of those patients who underwent incomplete removal, radiation therapy was found to significantly improve the clinical result (P=0.042). CONCLUSION: In the surgical treatment of spinal cord ependymoma, preoperative functional status, the presence of intratumoral cysts, the extent of removal, and postoperative radiation therapy were found to be significant prognostic factors of postoperative outcome.

Surgical Outcome and Prognostic Factors of Spinal Intramedullary Ependymomas in Adults

Ependymoma is the most common spinal intramedullary tumor in adults. The authors reviewed clinical data of 31 patients with spinal ependymoma who underwent operations between 1979 and 1996. The ages of the patients ranged from 15 to 62 years with a mean of 36.9. We analyzed clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, extents of surgical removal, histologic subtypes and follow-up results. Most patients were presented with sensory symptoms as initial symptoms which had lasted for 36.5 months on the average. The most frequent location was conus region(10 cases, 32%) followed by cervical, thoracic and cervico-thoracic spinal level. All cases were divided into two groups histologically, 12 myxopapillary subtypes and 19 non-myxopapillary subtypes. Operative results were dependent on the locations and the histologic subtypes of the tumor. Total removal was achieved in 4 cases out of 10 cases with masses around the conus and in 19 cases out of 21 cases with masses at other regions(p=0.003). Tumors were totally removed in 97% of 19 non-myxopapillary subtypes, but in 42% of 12 myxopapillary subtypes(p=0.001). From the follow-up data, we found that mean progression free interval was 83 months and 5 year progression free rate was 70%. Extent of removal was the only significant prognostic factor on multivariate analysis. Other factors such as tumor location, histologic subtype and radiation therapy were not significant. Disease progression was noted in 2 cases out of 23 cases of total removal group, but in 4 cases out of 8 cases of incomplete removal group (p=0.008). Postoperative radiation therapy was done in 4 cases in incomplete removal group and tumor regrowth was noted more frequently in non-radiation group than in radiation group without statistic significance. We concluded that disease progression can be determined by the extent of removal which is related to the tumor location and histologic subtypes.