A case is reported which raised intracranial pressure with papilledema due to hydrocephalus associated with a intramedullary spinal cord tumor at the T10-T12 levels. The pathlogical diagnosis of the tumor is pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma which is very rare in the spinal cord. CSF protein was elevated. The mechanisms of the raised intracranial pressure are discussed with a review of the literatures.
Diagnosis ; Hydrocephalus* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Papilledema ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms* ; Spinal Cord*

Intradural spinal lipomas are rare, primary genign tumor of the spinal canal. A case of intradural spinal lipoma with intramedullary extension is presented. Clinical feature was slowly progressing paraparesis. A subtotal excision was performed, and pathological studies confirmed the diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Lipoma* ; Paraparesis ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord Compression ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms

We have reported very rare two cases of motastatic spinal cord tumor originating from the thyroid. First case is obtained the best results as early diagnosis and surgical treatment were employed. Second case the least favorable results were obtained in case with rapid progression of neurological feature and multiple involvement at spinal cord and brain. The early diagnosis and treatment often prevent patients from becoming paraplegic. This paper is concerned with the discription of the clinical feature of spinal cord compression by malignant tumors and results of treatment.
Brain ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Spinal Cord Compression ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms* ; Spinal Cord* ; Thyroid Gland*

Primary intramedullary oligodendroglioma is very rare, accounting for only about 1% of all intramedullary spinal cord tumor. We present a case of intramedullary oligodendroglioma in a 30-year-old women. Magnetic resonance image showed an intramedullary mass in the T11-L1 region. Decompressive laminectomy and partial mass removal was performed, however, neurologic state became worse. The histological examination revealed oligodendroglioma. The intramedullary oligodendroglioma, although it is a rare entity, must be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord tumors.
Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Oligodendroglioma* ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms

Studying 50 cases with spinal intramedullary tumor at Nerve Department of Bach Mai hospital to diagnose before surgering from 1998 to 2003. Among them, 6 cases with ependymomas and 3 with astrocytomas were taken magenetic resonance. Result showed that ependymomas and astrocytomas were two major typies in intramedullary tumors. Magenetic resonance imaging has some characterstics helping identify these typies according to considering different factors (ex age, site of tumor). Eoendymomas is more in adult. Astrocytomas is more in children.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Diagnosis ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; Ependymoma ; Astrocytoma

OBJECTIVE: The spinal cord tumors(including vertebral tumors) are increasingly diagnosed and operated due to development of refined diagnostic and therapeutic tools. It is necessary to re-evaluate clinical features and surgical results of spinal cord tumors with increasing cases and developing treatment modalities. The authors reviewed the spinal cord tumor cases to evaluate their clinical characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The retrospective review of 654 cases of spinal cord tumors between 1973 and 1999 was done. The clinical features, pathological analysis and surgical results were analyzed and compared to the literature. The results of the study are analyzed with a more detailed consideration of each of major pathologies: neurogenic tumors, meningeal tumors, neuroepithelial tumors, and metastatic tumors. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The spinal cord tumor was most common in the 5th decade of age(145 cases, 22.1%) and 78 cases(11.9%) were found in children under 15 years of age. The ratio of male to female was 1.2:1. The pathologic diagnosis was neurogenic tumor in 266 cases(40.7%), neuroepithelial tumor in 131(20.0%), metastatic tumor in 118(18.0%), and meningeal tumor in 94(14.4%) in the order of frequency. The tumor was located most frequently in the thoracic area(36.5%) and in the intradural extramedullary space(38.1%). The most common initial presentation was pain(40.1%) and the mean duration for presentation to operation was 14.8 months. The total or gross total removal was possible in 404 cases(61.7%) and the surgical result on the postoperative one month was recovery or improvement in 424 cases(64.8%), stationary in 188(28.7%), progression in 42(6.4%). As a surgical complication, there was a spinal deformity(12 cases), wound infection(5 cases), aspiration pneumonia(5 cases) etc. Neurogenic tumors and menigiomas showed good surgical results, whereas neuroepithelial tumors(except ependymoma) and metastatic tumors showed relatively poor prognosis.
Child ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms* ; Spinal Cord* ; Wounds and Injuries

Intradural extramedullary spinal ependymomas are extremely rare. Herein, we describe a lesion-type spinal ependymoma that followed a malignant course, and discuss its clinical presentation, etiopathogenesis, and treatment. We present a patient who was diagnosed with an intradural extramedullary spinal tumor at T4-T6. The patient underwent gross total resection of the tumor without damage to the spinal cord. Histological examination, classified the lesion as a World Health Organization (WHO)-grade 2 ependymoma. One and a half years later, magnetic resonance imaging detected a recurring tumor at T4-T5. The tumor was removed and classified as a WHO-grade 3 anaplastic ependymoma. The patient was started on a course of regional spinal cord radiotherapy. The patient achieved tumoral control and clinical stabilization after the recurrence. We must consider the differential diagnosis of intradural extramedullary spinal tumors. The best treatment for this lesion is gross total resection and adjunctive radiotherapy is necessary in cases of malignant-change.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Ependymoma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Recurrence ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; World Health Organization

A case of intramedullary neurilemmoma embedded within the conus medullaris of spinal cord and presumably extending over its surface, is reported. Published reports of these rare lesions and possible mechanisms of their origin are reviewed. The treatment of choice for these rare lesions is thought to be laminectomy and resection and intraoperative frozen section diagnosis is considered essential. Importance of operative removal is emphasized.
Conus Snail* ; Diagnosis ; Frozen Sections ; Laminectomy ; Neurilemmoma* ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms

It is very difficult to differentiate radiation myelopathy from metastatic intramedullary spinal cord tumor. We described a case of chronic progressive radiation myelopathy, in which serial magnetic resonance imaging was of great value for the differential diagnosis.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Radiation Injuries ; Spinal Cord Diseases* ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms

Herpes zoster is primarily a disease of sensory portion of the nervous system and one of motor portion as well. Herpes zoster radiculopathy can be usually easily diagnosed in the presence or previous history of the characteristic cutaneous eruptions. Motor involvement dose not always coincide in location with the cutaneous lesions. Along with the radicular distribution of pain, motor neuron involvement can mimic other clinical conditions such as disc herniation, tumor infiltration, or infection. Even if the diagnosis of herpes zoster radiculopathy may be delayed, it must be put off until any other diseases or underlying causes are ruled out, especially in case motor symptoms and signs are major clinical features, or there is a topographic dissociation between dermatomes and myotomes involved. We report a patient with spinal cord tumor revealed in the evaluation and management of herpes zoster-related radiculopathy.
Diagnosis ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Motor Neurons ; Nervous System ; Paresis ; Radiculopathy* ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms* ; Spinal Cord*