Prognostic Factors for Surgically Mmanaged Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumours: A Single-centre Case Series

We are pleased to share our research on Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumours (IMSCTs), which are rare and complex neoplasms. This study presents a comprehensive single-centre case series of adult patients who underwent surgical management for IMSCTs, offering valuable insights into surgical outcomes and factors influencing recovery.

Study Overview

📅 Study Period: July 2010 – July 2021
🏥 Centre: Single-centre clinical study
👥 Patients Included: 66 adult patients with IMSCTs
📊 Tumour Types Analyzed:

• 34 ependymomas
• 17 haemangioblastomas
• 12 astrocytomas
• 2 lymphomas
• 1 teratoma

Key Findings

✅ Factors Influencing Postoperative Outcomes:

• Greater spinal cord involvement (spanning more vertebral levels) is linked to poorer McCormick scores (p = 0.03)
• Preoperative gait disturbance is significantly associated with poor postoperative outcomes (p = 0.007)
• Radicular pain before surgery is correlated with a better postoperative McCormick score (p = 0.045)

✅ Histological Differences:

• Haemangioblastomas are more likely to have a clear dissection plane during surgery compared to ependymomas and astrocytomas (p = 0.009)
• Astrocytomas showed a higher rate of good neurological outcomes (McCormick score) compared to ependymomas and haemangioblastomas (p = 0.03)

Conclusion

🔍 Significant Insights:

• Histology, tumour extent, and preoperative neurological deficits such as gait disturbance and radicular pain play crucial roles in determining surgical outcomes for IMSCTs
• Astrocytomas tend to show better neurological recovery than ependymomas or haemangioblastomas
• The cranio-caudal extent of the tumour and pre-surgical gait disturbance are critical factors influencing neurological function post-surgery

🔗 Read the full study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35829775/

This study provides important insights for the management of intramedullary spinal cord tumours, particularly in evaluating the prognostic factors that can influence neurological recovery after surgery.