Intramedullary tumors at king Khalid University Hospital

ABSTRACT

A retrospective analysis of 16 consecutive cases of intramedullary lesions treated at King Khalid University Hospital between 1985-1995 was conducted to provide data regarding the characteristics of patients with intramedullary tumours in Saudi Arabia in comparison with the existing literature. Ninety four% of the patients were unable to walk independently atpresentation. This series is unusual in that it included a case of intramedullary tuberculoma, in the low incidence of low grade astrocytoma [13%], the high incidence of malignant astrocytoma [25%] and the relatively high incidence of tumour located in the thoracic [31%] and cervicomedullay region [19%]. Our 4 malignant astrocytoma patients were unique in that two showed growth of their neoplasm into the medulla, one had a multicentric tumour and the other developed neuroaxial dissemination. At a median follow-up of 12 months, 6 of the 13 survivors had a "favourable" outcome in that they were able to function and ambulate independently. This study shows that there is a slight difference in the characteristics of intramedullary tumours in Saudi Arabia compared to what is reported in literature. Patients with intramedullary tumours should be diagnosed by MRI and referred early speciaIised neurosurgical units capable of performing a tumour resection, as completely as possible