Background and purpose: To evaluate the incidence, clinical presentation, operative techniques and long-term outcome of spinal meningiomas following surgery.
Methods: Fifteen patients harboring spinal meningiomas were treated between 1998 and 2005 in our department. Diagnosis was made on magnetic resonance imaging and confirmed histologically. Microsurgical resection was carried out through a posterior approach in all cases.
Results: Follow-up extended from 60 to 156 months (mean: 99 and median 105 months). The most common site of spinal meningiomas was the thoracic region. Tumors were strictly intradural and extramedullary in 14 patients (93%) and macroscopic resection was considered as complete in all cases. Neurological improvement was observed in 13 patients (87%). There was no operative mortality and morbidity was low (20%). No patient underwent radiotherapy and the recurrence rate is 8%.
Conclusion: Spinal meningiomas are benign tumors for which advances in imaging tools and microsurgical techniques have yielded better results. The goal of surgery should be the total resection, which significantly reduces the risk of recurrence with an acceptable morbidity.
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