RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the curative effect of microsurgery for intramedullary tumor in the superior cervical spinal cord.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical manifestations, microsurgical methods and results were reviewed retrospectively in 12 patients with intramedullary tumors in the superior cervical spinal cord.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No death occurred in these cases after the operations. The intramedullary tumors were totally resected in 10 patients including 8 with ependymomas and 2 with astrocytomas, and subtotally in 2 patients with astrocytomas. The spinal functions of patients, graded by McCormick scale system 3 months after the operations, were improved in 8 cases and remained unchanged in 4 cases. Nine patients were followed up for 1-3 years after the operations, and no tumor recurrence was found in 8 cases with total tumor resection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Radical microneurosurgery is currently the best choice for the treatment of intradullary tumor in the superior cervical spinal cord.</p>