• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.555-558
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• 2000

Crowth of an angiolipoma of the central nervous system is rare. Only about 60 cases were searched in the literature. We report one case of spinal angiolipoma recently treated in our institution. A 67-year-old man was admitted because of burning sensation on the both lower extremities and paraparesis. He felt burning sensation on the both great toes and it progressively involved to thighs and inguinal area during the past 1 year which gradually worsened. MR image showed a spinal mass lesion at the level of T4 to T6. The lesion was isodense and hyperdense in periphery on T1-weighted image and hyperintense on T2-weighted image. The tumor was located on the posterior area of the spinal cord and markedly enhanced after intravenous Gd-DTPA. At the operation, a soft, dark-red mass was totally removed. On histological examination, the tumor was shown to be mainly composed of mature fatty cells and numerous blood vessels with enlarged lumens. Postoperative course was uneventful and the symptoms improved gradually.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup2
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• pp.322-327
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• 2001

Objectives : There are many kinds of method to evaluate neural decompression during operation. They are direct visual and manual inspection, intraoperative ultrasound, endoscope, intraoperative computed tomography and intraoperative myelography. We used intraoperative myelography to evaluate the proper decompression of neural elements during the decompressive surgery. Methods : We injected 10-20cc of nonionic water-soluble contrast materials through direct puncture site of exposed dura during operation or lower lumbar level or lumbar drain inserted preoperatively. 12 patients were included in this study. They were 7 patients of centrally herniated lumbar disc disease, 1 patient of multiple lumbar spinal stenosis, 2 patients of thoracic extradural tumor and 2 cervical fracture & dislocations. Results : 5 of 12 patients showed remained neural compression through intraoperative myelography, so they were operated further through other approach. Myelographic dye is heavier than CSF, so the dependent side of subarachnoid space was visualized only. In one case, CSF leakage through hemovac was detected, but it was treated only bed rest for 5 days after hemovac removal. Conclusion :Intraoperative myelography is an effective method to evaluate neural decompression during spinal surgery. This technique is easy and familiar to us, neurosurgeons.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1291-1299
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• 2001

Objectives : The authors present a retrospective analysis of 14 patients treated for spinal cord hemangioblastoma (SCH) between Dec. 1986 and Mar. 2000. This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the difference of the functional outcomes associated with the extent of surgical removal of SCH. Methods : Eleven patients were male and three patients were female. Their mean age was 37.2 years that ranged from 19 to 62 years. Preoperative magnetic resonance(MR) imaging of the spine was performed in all cases, and preoperative angiography in eleven cases. They were followed from 15 months to 161 months(median follow-up period, 47 months), and we investigated the change of neurological symptoms and functional outcomes with radiological features, especially on MR imaging. Results : Six patients were accompanied by von Hippel-Lindau disease, and three of them had multiple CNS tumors. Thirteen patients had intramedullary tumor, and the remaining one had extradural. Syringomyelia around the tumor was observed in ten cases. All patients underwent surgical removal, and gross total removal(GTR) was achieved in ten cases. Preoperative embolization was performed in four cases. In four patients who were treated with preoperative embolization, intraoperative loss of blood was minimal and GTR was possible. One patient developed a transient swallowing difficulty postoperatively without permanent postoperative neurological deficits. In three of four patients in whom GTR was not possible, their functional outcomes were worsened postoperatively. The functional status at discharge was improved in seven patients, stationary in four patients, and worse in three. At the last follow-up(15-161 months), one of four patients who had been stationary at discharge showed improvement but, the rest did not show any change. All patients who showed neurological improvement were patients with GTR, and the patients with GTR had significant better outcome than those without GTR(p=0.015). Conclusion : Surgical treatment, and especially, GTR is considered as treatment of choice for spinal cord hemangioblastoma. Preoperative embolization may prevent intraoperative bleeding and improve surgical outcome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.592-607
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• 2021

Objective : Few studies exist on primary spinal cord tumors (PSCTs) in pediatric patients. The purpose of this study was to perform descriptive analysis and detailed survival analysis for PSCTs. Methods : Between 1985 and 2017, 126 pediatric patients (male : female, 56 : 70) with PSCTs underwent surgery in a single institution. We retrospectively analyzed data regarding demographics, tumor characteristics, outcomes, and survival statistics. Subgroup analysis was performed for the intramedullary (IM) tumors and extradural (ED) tumors separately. Results : The mean age of the participants was 6.4±5.04 years, and the mean follow-up time was 69.5±46.30 months. The most common compartment was the ED compartment (n=57, 45.2%), followed by the IM (n=43, 34.1%) and intradural extramedullary (IDEM; n=16, 12.7%) compartments. Approximately half of PSCTs were malignant (n=69, 54.8%). The most common pathologies were schwannomas (n=14) and neuroblastomas (n=14). Twenty-two patients (17.5%) died from the disease, with a mean disease duration of 15.8±15.85 months. Thirty-six patients (28.6%) suffered from progression, with a mean period of 22.6±30.81 months. The 10-year overall survival (OS) rates and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 81% and 66%, respectively. Regarding IM tumors, the 10-year OS rates and PFS rates were 79% and 57%, respectively. In ED tumors, the 10-year OS rates and PFS rates were 80% and 81%, respectively. Pathology and the extent of resection showed beneficial effects on OS for total PSCTs, IM tumors, and ED tumors. PFS was affected by both the extent of removal and pathology in total PSCTs and ED tumors; however, pathology was a main determinant of PFS rather than the extent of removal in IM tumors. The degree of improvement in the modified McCormick scale showed a trend towards improvement in patients with IM tumors who achieved gross total removal (p=0.447). Conclusion : Approximately half of PSCTs were malignant, and ED tumors were most common. The most common pathologies were schwannomas and neuroblastomas. Both the pathology and extent of resection had a decisive effect on OS. For IM tumors, pathology was a main determinant of PFS rather than the extent of removal. Radical excision of IM tumors could be a viable option for better survival without an increased risk of worse functional outcomes.