Background: Spinal cord tumors represent 10% to 15% of central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms. In adults, two thirds of these tumors are extramedullary and the remaining third are intramedullary. Objective: We aimed to outline the prognostic factors that affect the final outcome of cervical cord tumor surgeries. Patients and methods: Sixty one patients with cervical spinal cord tumors underwent surgery between march 2009 and march 2014. The neurological status before surgery, 1 month after the operation and at the most recent examination were assessed based on the grading system of McCormick outcome. The 61 patients, divided according to the histopathological diagnosis. Results: There were 22 ependymoma (36.1%), 13 Scwannoma (21.3%), 12 Meningioma (19.7%), 6 Neurofibroma (9.8%), 3 Astrocytoma (4.9%) and 5 other pathologies collectively (8.2%). In this study there was 75% of patients with total resection, 11.4% had subtotal and 13.1% had partial resection or biopsy. Thirty seven patients was improved (60.7%), thirteen patients with no change (21.3%), ten patients deteriorated (16.4%) and one died (1.6%). By statistical analysis, there was significant correlation between postoperative outcome and the tumor grade (P=0.015), the less the grade the better outcome .We found a significant correlation between the pre-operative state and the final functional outcome, that, the better the preoperative state the better outcome. There is statistically relevant correlation between the recurrence and the degree of resection. Conclusion: The spinal cord tumors can be treated safely and effectively by surgery. Total resection must be the essential aim before surgery. Preoperative neurological state, pathological type, pathological grades, and degree of resection are the most important factors that affect the final outcome |
