SURGICAL EXPERIENCE WITH INTRAMEDULLARY TUMORS AT KING-FAISAL-SPECIALIST-HOSPITAL IN SAUDI-ARABIA 1975-1994

Background: There is no previous information regarding the epidemiolog y and treatment of intramedullary tumors in Saudi Arabia and other are as of the Middle East. Also, in western countries the optimal treatmen t of these tumors is still to some extent controversial. Methods: A re trospective analysis was carried out on all cases of intramedullary tu mor treated at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 1975-1994. The result was compared with recent reports in the literature. Results: The clinical history and results of workup and t reatment are given for 19 ependymoma (8), low-grade astrocytoma (6), a nd one case each of epidermoid, lipoma, schistosomiasis and Ewing's sa rcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET); in one case no definite diagnosis was made. In an additional patient the initial diagnosis of low-grade astrocytoma was later changed to syringomyelia- after radiat ion therapy. The average follow-up time was 43 months; the majority of patients clearly benefited from the treatment. Conclusions: The epide miology and histopathological diagnosis of intramedullary tumors in Sa udi Arabia seem to follow the patterns should probably be centralized to a limited number of clinics and undertaken by a few subspecialized surgeons.