Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors: A Series of 72 Cases

To analyze and present intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors and the prognostic factors affecting their neurological outcome.Materials and Methods From June 2002 to June 2014, we had 72 cases of such tumors. Among them, 14 at cervical, 6 at cervicodorsal junction, and 52 at dorsal and dorsolumbar region. All of them presented with neurological symptoms and deficits. Microsurgical excision of the tumor was done in all cases. Histopathology showed schwannoma in 42 cases, meningioma in 28 cases, malignant schwannoma in 1 case, and dermoid cyst in 1 case.Results Except for the malignant schwannoma case, all patients had improvement in the neurological deficits. Follow-up period ranged from 2 months to 12 years. Postoperative CSF leak occurred in three patients, one at cervical region and two at dorsal region. CSF leak stopped with duraplasty and revision of the wound.Conclusion Size and location of the tumor, severity of neurological deficit at the time of presentation, degree of cord retraction and vascular insult during excision of tumor, and completeness of the removal are the prognostic factors in the postoperative neurological outcome of the patients with these tumors.