ADULT INTRAMEDULLARY SPINAL-CORD EPENDYMOMAS - THE RESULT OF SURGERY IN 38 PATIENTS

Thirty-eight patients underwent surgery for an intramedullary spinal c ord ependymoma. In 37 patients, postoperative magnetic resonance imagi ng confirmed that the tumor was totally removed. The morbidity of surg ery was directly related to the preoperative neurological condition. P atients who were normal or nearly normal preoperatively were rarely wo rse after surgery, and those who had significant disability preoperati vely were at greatest risk of being more impaired after surgery. There has been no tumor recurrence in any patient after a mean follow-up pe riod of 24 months, and radiation therapy has not been employed as a su rgical adjunct.