DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v5i08.013

Pages: 3012-3021

Spinal tumors comprise a minority of central nervous system tumors, Majority of cases presenting with significant neurological deficits. We analysed 60 cases of spinal tumors and their neurological outcome. The study was conducted in prospective and retrospective manner. It included 60 cases of spinal tumors managed in Gandhi hospital from May 2011 to April 2017. We analyzed age, sex, tumor location and its vertebral level, neurological status at the time of presentation, histology, and neurological outcome. We have examined 60 cases of spinal tumours presenting with neurological deficits. Among 60 cases, primary tumours were 57 (benign 51 and malignant tumors 6), metastatic tumors were 3. IDEM were 40, Intramedullary were 11, extradural intraspinal tumors were 9. Histological examination of these tumors showed Nerve sheath tumors in 28(Schwannomas 20, Neurofibromas 8), Meningiomas in 11, lipomas in 2, astrocytomas in 4, Oligodendrogliomas in 3, Ependymomas in 3, NHL in 3, Ewing's sarcoma in 1, Plasmacytoma in 1, Chordoma in 1, and metastatic tumors in 3 cases. Primary sites for metastatic tumors were Lung, Thyroid, and Prostate each in one case. Motor weakness, Pain, Bowel and bladder dysfunction were the most common presenting symptoms. Our study revealed that primary tumors were more in number than metastatic tumors, with a higher proportion of nerve sheath tumors. Rare histological variants like PNET tumors, plasma cell tumors should also to be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal tumors. We observed good neurological outcome in benign tumors and poor neurological outcome in malignant tumors postoperatively. The poor neurological outcome in malignant tumors was attributed due to rapid growth of the tumor and delayed presentation to tertiary care center. Preoperative neurological status and rate of progression is the most important factor related to outcome in spinal tumors.