Intramedullary spinal cord tumors: patterns of care in Victoria from 1998-2000

Aim: This study describes the management of and outcomes for adult patients with newly diagnosed intramedullary spinal cord tumors during 1998-2000 in Victoria. Methods: The adult patients were identified in aretrospective cohort study conducted by surveying doctors involved in managing incident glioma cases identified from the population-based Victorian Cancer Registry. Results: Sixteen patients were considered eligible for this review. Of these 15 (94%) had a histological diagnosis: an ependymoma was diagnosed in 13 patients (81%). A complete macroscopic resection was achieved in eight patients (50%). A variety of tumor types and grades were observed with surgery and radiotherapy the mainstays of therapy. One patient received chemotherapy (7%). One patient died from disease within six months of diagnosis. Of the remaining 15 patients, all were alive at 5 years and 10 (63%) remain disease free. Conclusion: This review documents characteristics of a rare condition and suggests that, overall, prognosis is excellent. © Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.