Management of intramedullary astrocytomas

Abstract

Primitive IMT represent 8-10% of all primary tumors of the spinal cord. Only 2-4% of all CNS tumors in adults are IMT. Adult astrocytomas are 25-35% of total IMT (1). We prospectively analyzed clinical, imaging and pathological data from all consecutive patients operated for intramedullary tumors in our department (Neurosurgery I Clinic, Ward II) between January 2003 and August 2009 (80 months). All surgical interventions were performed by the same surgical team. We emphasized the technical difficulties raised by ablation of IMT depending on the type of the tumor and postoperative neurological outcome.