• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.72-77
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• 2008

Objective : The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and surgical outcome of the conus medullaris tumors. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 26 patients who underwent surgery for conus medullaris tumor from August 1986 to July 2007. We analyzed clinical manifestation, preoperative MRI findings, extent of surgical resection, histopathologic type, adjuvant therapy, and outcomes. Results : There were ependymoma (13), hemangioblastoma (3), lipoma (3), astrocytoma (3), primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) (2), mature teratoma (1), and capillary hemangioma (1) on histopathologic type. Leg pain was the most common symptom and was seen in 80.8% of patients. Pain or sensory change in the saddle area was seen in 50% of patients and 2 patients had severe pain in the perineum and genitalia. Gross total or complete tumor resection was obtained in 80.8% of patients. On surgical outcome. modified JOA score worsened in 26.9% of patients, improved in 34.6%, and remained stable in 38.5%. The mean VAS score was improved from 5.4 to 1.8 among 21 patients who had lower back pain and leg pain. Conclusion : The surgical outcome of conus medullaris tumor mainly depends on preoperative neurological condition and pathological type. The surgical treatment of conus medullaris tumor needs understanding the anatomical and functional characteristics of conus meudllaris tumor for better outcome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.121-124
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• 2013

Granular cell tumors (GrCTs) of the spinal cord are rare benign tumors with a high rate of local recurrence. Only 6 cases of spinal GrCTs have been reported. GrCT is difficult to distinguish from other benign tumors such as schwannoma using imaging. A radiological "speckled dots" sign may be a useful differentiating feature of GrCT based upon experience with two cases and a review of the literature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.265-268
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• 2014

Solitary fibrous tumor is rare benign mesenchymal neoplasm. The spinal solitary fibrous tumor is extremely rare. The authors experienced a case of intramedullary solitary fibrous tumor of cervicothoracic spinal cord in a 48-year-old man with right lower extremity sensory disturbance. Spinal MRI showed intradural mass lesion in the level of C7-T1, the margin between the spinal cord and tumor was not clear on MRI. A Left unilateral laminectomy and mass removal was performed. Intra operative finding, the tumor boundary was unclear from spinal cord and it had intramedullary and extramedullary portion. After surgery, patient had good recovery and had uneventful prognosis. Follow up spinal MRI showed no recurrence of tumor.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.57-59
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• 2011

Intradural extramedullary (IDEM) ependymomas occur very rarely and little has been reported about their clinical characteristics. The authors present a case of a 57-year-old woman with an IDEM ependymoma. She was referred for the evaluation of a 4-month history of increasing neck pain and muscular weakness of the left extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine demonstrated an IDEM tumor with spinal cord compression. At the time of surgery, an encapsulated IDEM tumor without a dural attachment or medullary infiltration was noted, but the tumor capsule adherent to the spinal cord and root was left in place to minimize the risk of neurological sequelae. Histologic examination revealed a benign classic ependymoma. The post-operative course was uneventful and radiotherapy was performed. The patient showed an excellent clinical recovery, with no recurrence after 5 years of follow-up.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.151-154
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• 2013

Multiple myeloma, a multicentric hematological malignancy, is the most common primary tumor of the spine. As epidural myeloma causing spinal cord compression is a rare condition, its therapeutic approach and clinical results have been reported to be diverse, and no clear guidelines for therapeutic decision have been established. Three patients presented with progressive paraplegia and sensory disturbance. Image and serological studies revealed multiple myeloma and spinal cord compression caused by epidural myeloma. Emergency radiotherapy and steroid therapy were performed in all three cases. However, their clinical courses and results were distinctly different. Following review of our cases and the related literature, we suggest a systematic therapeutic approach for these patients to achieve better clinical results.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the clinical effect of Korean medical treatment on a spinal cord tumor. Methods : We treated a patient who was diagnosed with a spinal cord tumor. We used acupuncture, bee venom pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, moxibustion and physical therapy; the patient was evaluated using the visual analogue scale(VAS) and given an International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury(ISNCSCI) score. Results : VAS decreased and ISNCSCI score increased meaningfully. Conclusions : According to these results, this report possibly suggests that Korean medical treatment could be a helpful choice for treating a spinal cord tumor.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.537-539
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• 2013

Charcot spinal arthropathy is a rare, progressive type of vertebral joint degeneration that occurs in the setting of any preexisting condition characterized by decreased afferent innervation to the extent that normal protective joint sensation in the vertebral column is impaired. The authors report on a case of Charcot arthropathy of the lower lumbar spine mimicking a spinal tumor following cervical cord injury.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.521-524
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• 2013

Ependymoma can spread via cerebrospinal fluid, but late spinal recurrences of intracranial tumor are very rare. We describe a case of a 33-year-old male who presented with multiple, delayed, recurrent lesions in the spinal cord from an intracranial ependymoma. The patient underwent gross total resection and postoperative radiation therapy 14 years prior to visit for a low grade ependymoma in the 4th ventricle. The large thoraco-lumbar intradural-extramedullary spinal cord tumor was surgically removed and the pathologic diagnosis was an anaplastic ependymoma. An adjuvant whole-spine radiation therapy for residual spine lesions was performed. After completion of radiation therapy, a MRI showed a near complete response and the disease was stable for three years.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.253-256
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• 2013

Spinal intradural hemangiopericytoma is a very rare tumor and can be characterized by massive bleeding during surgeries, frequent recurrence, and metastasis. However, definite radiologic differential points of hemangiopericytoma are not known. We describe an unexpected hemangiopericytoma case with large bleeding and management of the tumor. A 21-year-old man visited complaining of progressive neck pain and tingling sensation in both hands. Magnetic resonance imaging of his spine revealed C1-2 ventral intradural mass. When the dura was opened, the intradural tumor was placed behind spinal accessary nerves. The tumor was partially exposed only after some accessary nerves had been cut. When internal debulking was performing, unexpected bleeding was noted and it was difficult to control because of narrow surgical field and hypervascularity. Intraoperative spinal angiography and embolization were performed. The tumor was completely removed after embolization. Pathological diagnosis was consistent with hemangiopericytoma. When surgeons meet a flesh-red tumor that bleeds unexpectedly during surgery, hemangiopericytoma may be considered. When feeder control is hard due to reciprocal location of spinal cord, the tumor, and feeders, intraoperative angiography and embolization may be a possible option.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.64-67
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• 2010

Although very rare, a few cases of intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal tumor migration have been reported since Tomimatsu first reported a mobile schwannoma of the cervical cord in 1974. Schwan noma is a neurogenic tumor which originates from nerve sheath that it is relatively well-marginated tumor with little attachment or adhesion to surrounding tissue. Mobility of tumor in spinal canal sometimes can result in negative exploration at the expected area. We found three interesting cases in which different tumor locations observed in repeated magnetic resonance image (MRI) findings. All tumors were intradural and extramedullary schwannoma. We reviewed the literature about moving tumor in the spine through PUBMED search.