Introduction
Primary spinal cord tumors (PSCTs) comprise approximately four percent of primary CNS tumors. They are typically classified into two major groups: Extradural and intradural. Extradural ones usually arise from adjacent connective tissues. In contrast, Intradural tumors originate from neural, glial, or meningial cells in the spinal cord and are subcategorized into Intra- and extra-medullary.
Regarding the rarity, little population-based studies are available for PSCTs. [1] Most of these studies lack uniform pathologic criteria and rarely include non malignant cases. [2] A solid fund of knowledge on the clinical characteristics of each type of tumor can help prompting the process of diagnosis, management, treatment planning and estimating prognosis for spinal cord tumors. [3,4]
We intended to provide a view on epidemiology of PSCTs in Isfahan in order to set a benchmark of their clinical presentations and current management in Iranian population. Each histological subtype shall be discussed separately.
Materials and Methods
In this descriptive study, we retrospectively investigated primary spinal cord tumors in Isfahan province. Tumor registries of three major health care centers in Isfahan city (Al-Zahra, Kashani, and Sayed-Al-Shohada hospitals) were explored for cases diagnosed during the period September 1992 through September 2004. Diagnosis was established by biopsy subsequent to magnetic resonance imaging (with gadolinium-contrast).
Patient demographic/clinical data (gender, age at onset, presenting symptoms) was collected using patients’ file and via phone interviews. The male-to-female rate ratios were calculated by dividing frequency rates for male cases by those for female...
... middle of paper ...
...Zamolo G, Erman-Baldini I. Epidemiology of central nervous system tumors in Labin area, Croatia, 1974-2001. Croat. Med. J. 2004 Apr;45(2):206–12.
11. Johannesen TB, Angell-Andersen E, Tretli S, Langmark F, Lote K. Trends in incidence of brain and central nervous system tumors in Norway, 1970-1999. Neuroepidemiology. 2004 Jun;23(3):101–9.
12. Kim MS, Chung CK, Choe G, Kim IH, Kim HJ. Intramedullary spinal cord astrocytoma in adults: postoperative outcome. J. Neurooncol. 2001 Mar;52(1):85–94.
13. Abdel-Wahab M, Etuk B, Palermo J, Shirato H, Kresl J, Yapicier O, et al. Spinal cord gliomas: A multi-institutional retrospective analysis. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 2006 Mar 15;64(4):1060–71.
14. Helseth A, Mørk SJ. Primary intraspinal neoplasms in Norway, 1955 to 1986. A population-based survey of 467 patients. J. Neurosurg. 1989 Dec;71(6):842–5.