Intradurale Spinal Tumors: Management and Treatment

Overview

Intradurale spinal tumors are rare neoplastic lesions that involve the spinal cord and surrounding structures and may cause neurological symptoms such as pain, motor deficits, sensory disturbances, and sphincter dysfunction. Surgical resection is often the primary treatment when feasible and may improve neurological outcomes and relieve spinal cord compression. This retrospective observational study aims to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients who underwent surgical treatment for intradural spinal tumors at the Neurosurgery Unit of Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo di Alessandria between 2022 and 2024. Clinical, radiological, and pathological data will be collected from electronic medical records, operative reports, and diagnostic imaging. The study will evaluate preoperative and postoperative neurological status using the McCormick functional scale, as well as postoperative complications and tumor recurrence. The results of this study may contribute to improving the understanding of the clinical management of intradural spinal tumors and identifying factors associated with surgical outcomes and patient prognosis.

Intradural spinal tumors are uncommon neoplastic lesions involving the spinal cord and its surrounding structures. These tumors may be classified as intradural extramedullary or intramedullary depending on their origin and anatomical location. Although relatively rare, they represent an important clinical condition due to their potential to cause progressive neurological impairment, including pain, motor weakness, sensory deficits, and sphincter dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents the diagnostic gold standard for identifying and characterizing intradural spinal tumors. Surgical resection is generally considered the primary therapeutic option when feasible, with the aim of removing the lesion, decompressing the spinal cord, improving neurological symptoms, and obtaining a histological diagnosis. Advances in surgical techniques and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring have contributed to improved surgical outcomes and postoperative recovery. This study is a retrospective, single-center observational study conducted at the Neurosurgery Unit of the Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo di Alessandria, Italy. The study includes patients who underwent surgical treatment for intradural spinal tumors between 2022 and 2024. Clinical data will be retrospectively collected from electronic medical records, surgical reports, imaging studies, and histopathological reports. The collected variables include demographic data, tumor characteristics (location and histology), clinical presentation, and postoperative outcomes. The neurological functional status of patients will be evaluated using the McCormick functional scale, comparing preoperative and postoperative neurological conditions. Additional analyses will focus on postoperative complications and tumor recurrence. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive description of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with intradural spinal tumors treated surgically at our institution and to contribute to a better understanding of the management and outcomes of this condition in clinical practice.