• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.221-230
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• 2014

Purpose: To evaluate the risk of vertebral compression fracture (VCF) after conventional radiotherapy (RT) for colorectal cancer (CRC) with spine metastasis and to identify risk factors for VCF in metastatic and non-metastatic irradiated spines. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 68 spinal segments in 16 patients who received conventional RT between 2009 and 2012. Fracture was defined as a newly developed VCF or progression of an existing fracture. The target volume included all metastatic spinal segments and one additional non-metastatic vertebra adjacent to the tumor-involved spines. Results: The median follow-up was 7.8 months. Among all 68 spinal segments, there were six fracture events (8.8%) including three new VCFs and three fracture progressions. Observed VCF rates in vertebral segments with prior irradiation or pre-existing compression fracture were 30.0% and 75.0% respectively, compared with 5.2% and 4.7% for segments without prior irradiation or pre-existing compression fracture, respectively (both p < 0.05). The 1-year fracture-free probability was 87.8% (95% CI, 78.2-97.4). On multivariate analysis, prior irradiation (HR, 7.30; 95% CI, 1.31-40.86) and pre-existing compression fracture (HR, 18.45; 95% CI, 3.42-99.52) were independent risk factors for VCF. Conclusion: The incidence of VCF following conventional RT to the spine is not particularly high, regardless of metastatic tumor involvement. Spines that received irradiation and/or have pre-existing compression fracture before RT have an increased risk of VCF and require close observation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.72-74
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• 2006

We report a case of fatal aortic tumor embolism presenting as acute paraplegia. A four-year-old girl was referred from a local hospital with sudden paraplegia and a poor medical condition. A neighbor had noticed her fall from a bike, and she could not walk. She had no previous illness. Emergency spine MRI revealed no remarkable findings. During the process of evaluation, her general condition deteriorated progressively. Chest and abdominal CT showed a large mass in the left lung field, and a diagnosis of aortic occlusion was made. An emergency transfemoral embolectomy was attempted. However, the patency of the aorta was not recovered. On pathological examination of tissues taken from the embolectomy, a pleuro-pulmonary blastoma was found. The patient died 22 hours after the onset of her symptoms. We describe a possible mechanism for the tumor embolism. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of aortic occlusion caused by an embolic malignancy, presenting as acute paraplegia.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.400-403
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• 2001

Extradural meningiomas are relatively rare and those arising from spinal root are even rarer. Recently, a case of extradural meningioma arising from a spinal nerve root was surgically treated in our institution. This patient was a 19-year-old female presented with paraparesis and paresthesia. The mass was compressing the spinal cord at the level of fourth thoracic spine, and it was extended to the nerve root. At operation it was found to be originated from the fourth thoracic spinal nerve root. After removal of the tumor, the neurologic symptom and sign were recovered completely. Histoligic examination of tumor revealed as transitional type of meningioma.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.264-268
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• 2016

Benign fibrous histiocytoma (BFH) is a rare benign primary skeletal tumor that occurs commonly in the long bones, spine and pelvis. BFH constitutes a diagnostic challenge because it shares clinical background, radiological characteristics, and histological features with other fibrous lesions such as non-ossifying fibroma, giant cell tumor. We present a case of BFH with cystic change that occurred in the distal femur. We did not identify any case of BFH with cystic change involving the majority of the lesion that occurred in the metaepiphysis of the long bone.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.264-267
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• 2011

A 50-year-old man presented bilateral hypesthesia on and below the T6 dermatome and paresthesia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an intraspinal extradural tumor, which located from the 6th thoracic vertebral body to the upper margin of the 7th vertebral body, continuing dumbbell-like through the intervertebral foramen into the right middle thorax suggesting a neurogenic tumor (neurofibroma or neurilemmoma). With the patient in a prone position, we exposed and excised the tumor via a one stage posterior approach through a hemi-laminictomy of T6. Histologic examination showed a grade 1 meningothelial meningioma, according to the World Health Organization classification. Initially, we assumed the mass was a schwannoma because of its location and dumbbell shape. However, the tumor was actually a meningioma. Postoperatively, hypesthesia resolved completely and motor power of the leg gradually full recovered. A postoperative MRI revealed no evidence of residual tumor.

• 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.38 no.4
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• pp.259-264
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• 2005

Objective : The vertebroplasty is an excellent procedure in spine compression fracture, but there are some problems such as cement leakage and difficulties in bone biopsy. Recently, the osteoplasty system is developed to solve these problems, so we will report the usefulness of the osteoplasty system. Methods : From January 2003 to November 2003, there are 9patients with simple osteoporotic spine compression fracture, 2 compression fracture patients combined with suspicious spinal metastasis, 1patient with suspicious primary bone tumor, and 2patient with infection on spine. All patients were treated using the osteoplasty system. Results : All 11 compression fracture patients were relived the back pain after the osteoplasty and there is no complication. The bone biopsies in 3 suspicious cancer patients were also effectively performed using the osteoplasty system; negative result in 2patients and positive result in 1patient. The culture result of spontaneous discitis was no growth for 48hours. The spine tuberculosis was confirm using the osteoplasty system. Conclusion : The osteoplasty system has distinguished advantages in comparison with the vertebroplasty. That is, the risk of cement leakage is lower than vertebroplasty because of low pressure delivery system. And we can obtain the specimen effectively in bone biopsy because of large cannula. In conclusion, we emphasize that the osteoplasty system is a more useful procedure in spine compression fracture especially in the patient needed bone biopsy for diagnosis.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2007

Paragangliomas arise from a multicentric system of paraganglion cells derived from the neuroectoderm. Although these tumors are the most common in the head and neck region, they may occur in diverse locations including mediastinum, retroperitoneum and visceral organs. Spinal paragangliomas arising in the intradural space of the thoracolumbar spine have been reported rarely, with the majority located in the cauda equina. Only few cases of thoracic paraganglioma have been previously reported. We present an additional case of thoracolumbar paraganglioma and review the clinical MRI and histopathological features of this unusual tumor.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.574-579
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• 2000

Chordomas are rare central nervous system tumors that are found predominantly in the sacrococcygeal(50%) and basiosphenoidal region(35%). Most of the remainder are related to the vertebral bodies and only 1 to 2% of them are known to occur in the thoracic vertebrae. A 15-year-old girl was admitted because of paraparesis. Three months prior to admission, she underwent a lumbar laminectomy at other hospital for the treatment of herniated lumbar disc but paraparesis became rather aggravated after the operation. At admission, MRI showed a low signal T1WI, high signal T2WI mass compressing the cord at T2 vertebral body. The tumor was subtotally removed via costotransversectomy but as the tumor was proven to be a chordoma, a second stage operation via anterior route was followed. At second operation, T2 corpectomy and T1-T3 plate fixation with autogeneous ileac bone graft was performed. Shortly after the operation, preoperative paraparesis disappeared completely and no evidence of tumor recurrence was noticed both clinically and radiologically for next 2 years. Spine surgery at cervicothoracic junction may be technically demanding due to anatomical complexity and hindering large vessels. The authers reviewed this case with special emphasis on the surgical procedure in this region.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.495-504
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• 2021

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) applications possess substantial versatility within surgical applications, such as complex reconstructive surgeries and for the use of surgical resection guides. The capability of constructing an implant from a series of radiographic images to provide personalized anatomical fit is what makes 3D printed implants most appealing to surgeons. Our objective is to describe the process of integration of 3DP implants into the operating room for spinal surgery, summarize the outcomes of using 3DP implants in spinal surgery, and discuss the limitations and safety concerns during pre-operative consideration. 3DP allows for customized, light weight, and geometrically complex functional implants in spinal surgery in cases of decompression, tumor, and fusion. However, there are limitations such as the cost of the technology which is prohibitive to many hospitals. The novelty of this approach implies that the quantity of longitudinal studies is limited and our understanding of how the human body responds long term to these implants is still unclear. Although it has given surgeons the ability to improve outcomes, surgical strategies, and patient recovery, there is a need for prospective studies to follow the safety and efficacy of the usage of 3D printed implants in spine surgery.