Turkish Neurosurgery 2011 , Vol 21 , Num 4
Spinal Meningiomas: Recurrence in Ventrally Located Individuals on Long-Term Follow-Up; A Review of 46 Operated Cases
Lutfu POSTALCI1, Bekir TUGCU1, Abuzer GUNGOR1, Gucluhan GUCLU2
1Bakırkoy Psychiatric Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
2Bakırkoy Sadi Konuk Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN .3518-10.2 AIM: Surgical removal of spinal meningiomas is usually not difficult. In neurosurgical practice, their locations and growing patterns may affect surgical results. Ventrally located and en plaque meningiomas may not be removed totally. The aim of this study was to present the results of surgery in cases with spinal meningiomas, and reveal the factors affecting outcome.

MATERIAL and METHODS: There were 46 cases operated between January 1995 and December 2009 in single clinic. There were 33 female and 13 male patients. The mean age was 52. All patients underwent microsurgical resection using posterior approach.

RESULTS: Total resection was obtained in 38 patients (82%). Twenty-eight (61%) patients experienced clinical improvement after surgery. The tumor was completely dorsal to the spinal cord in 30 cases, dorsolateral in nine and ventral to the spinal cord in seven cases. We experienced eight recurrences (17%). Recurrences were seen most commonly seen in ventrally located tumors (62%).

CONCLUSION: Complete resection of spinal meningiomas seems to produce a good clinical outcome. Recently, advances in microneurosurgery and neuroimaging techniques have resulted in decreases in morbidity and recurrence rates in spinal meningiomas. Keywords : Meningiomas, Outcome, Recurrence, Spinal meningioma, Spinal tumours, Surgery

Corresponding author : Lutfu Postalcı, postalcil@hotmail.com