Microsurgical treatment of intramedullary spinal cord tumors

Objective: To explore the surgical technique for intramedullary spinal cord tumors,improve the curative effect and diminish the complications. Methods: The clinical data of 17 patients with intramedullary spinal cord tumors treated by microsurgery were analyzed retrospectively, including 9 ependymomas, 6 astrocytomas and 2 hemangioblastomas. Results: Total tumor removal was achieved in 9 patients with ependymoma, 2 patients with astrocytoma and 2 patients with hemangioblastoma. Partial tumor removal was achieved in 3 patients with astrocytoma. Tumor biopsy was carried out in 1 patient with astrocytoma. The symptoms were improved in 9 cases , unchanged in 4 cases and aggravated in 4 cases. Conclusion: Microsurgery is an effective method to treat intramedullary spinal cord tumors. Microsurgery can not only identify the pathology but also relieve function disorders of spinal cord in some way through decompression procedure for malignant intramedullary spinal cord tumors which can not be surgically removed.