ABSTRACT
Purpose: To retrospectively analyse the characteristics of diagnosis and operative treatment of 66 cases of scwannoma in the spinal canal. Methods: Sixty-six cases, 27 of the cervical region, 13 the thoracic and 26 of the lumbar and sacral regions were treated from 1983 to 1996. Clinical manifestation and types, and results of spinal radiography, myelography, CT scannig, MR imaging, operative treatment were separately described. Results: All of the 66 cases obtained timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment. The tumors in 60 patients were completely resected; and in remaining 6 patients subtotal excision was performed. The duration of follow-up averaged two years and eleven months and excellent and good results were achieved in 90.9% of the patients. Conclusions: 1) Schwannoma in the spinal canal is not uncommon; four in this series are malignant or with malignant tendency. 2) The forms of the tumor are with lots of variations. 3)An approximate position of the lesion can be determined by clinical neurological examination. Accurate diagnosis can be made by a procedure combining clinical and imaging examinations, operative exploration and pathological examination. 4) Total resection of the tumor may result in good restoration although it is sometimes difficult and risky.