No abstract available

No abstract available

[en] Spinal intramedullary metastases present with rapidly progressing neurological deficits and have an extremely poor prognosis. Prompt investigation and management are required. This case history illustrates that radiotherapy and steroids can be effective in returning motor function. The behaviour of the primary tumour and the stage of the disease influence whether surgery is appropriate. (author)

[en] Background Although diffusion tensor imaging has been successfully applied in brain research for decades, several main difficulties have hindered its extended utilization in spinal cord imaging. Purpose To assess the feasibility and clinical value of diffusion tensor imaging and tractography for evaluating chronic spinal cord compression. Material and Methods Single-shot spin-echo echo-planar DT sequences were scanned in 42 spinal cord compression patients and 49 healthy volunteers. The mean values of the apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy were measured in region of interest at the cervical and lower thoracic spinal cord. The patients were divided into two groups according to the high signal on T2WI (the SCC-HI group and the SCC-nHI group for with or without high signal). A one-way ANOVA was used. Diffusion tensor tractography was used to visualize the morphological features of normal and impaired white matter. Results There were no statistically significant differences in the apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy values between the different spinal cord segments of the normal subjects. All of the patients in the SCC-HI group had increased apparent diffusion coefficient values and decreased fractional anisotropy values at the lesion level compared to the normal controls. However, there were no statistically significant diffusion index differences between the SCC-nHI group and the normal controls. In the diffusion tensor imaging maps, the normal spinal cord sections were depicted as fiber tracts that were color-encoded to a cephalocaudal orientation. The diffusion tensor images were compressed to different degrees in all of the patients. Conclusion Diffusion tensor imaging and tractography are promising methods for visualizing spinal cord tracts and can provide additional information in clinical studies in spinal cord compression

[en] The primary objective of this research was to assess the relationship between FPs’ knowledge of palliative radiotherapy (RT) and referral for palliative RT. 1001 surveys were sent to FPs who work in urban, suburban, and rural practices. Respondents were tested on their knowledge of palliative radiotherapy effectiveness and asked to report their self-assessed knowledge. The response rate was 33%. FPs mean score testing their knowledge of palliative radiotherapy effectiveness was 68% (SD = 26%). The majority of FPs correctly identified that painful bone metastases (91%), airway obstruction (77%), painful local disease (85%), brain metastases (76%) and spinal cord compression (79%) can be effectively treated with RT, though few were aware that hemoptysis (42%) and hematuria (31%) can be effectively treated. There was a linear relationship between increasing involvement in palliative care and both self-assessed (p < 0.001) and tested (p = 0.02) knowledge. FPs had higher mean knowledge scores if they received post-MD training in palliative care (12% higher; p < 0.001) or radiotherapy (15% higher; p = 0.002). There was a strong relationship between FPs referral for palliative radiotherapy and both self-assessed knowledge (p < 0.001) and tested knowledge (p = 0.01). Self-assessed and tested knowledge of palliative RT is positively associated with referral for palliative RT. Since palliative RT is underutilized, further research is needed to assess whether family physician educational interventions improve palliative RT referrals. The current study suggests that studies could target family physicians already in practice, with educational interventions focusing on hemostatic and other less commonly known indications for palliative RT

[en] Abstract only

[en] Purpose: Incidence, outcome and prognostic factors of metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) patients reirradiated for in-field recurrence were analyzed. Radiation therapists' attitude in reirradiate spinal cord relapses, doses adopted and incidence of myelopathy were also examined. Materials and methods: Data deriving from 579 evaluable patients entered two randomized trials on radiotherapy (RT) for MSCC were revised. Results: Twenty-four (4.15%) patients had an in-field recurrence and 12 (50%) were reirradiated. At the time of analysis all reirradiated patients had died. Median time from first and second RT was 5 months (range, 2-31). Six patients received an 8 Gy single-dose, 2 patients 5 x 3 Gy and remaining four patients 2 x 8, 5 x 4, or a single dose of 7 and 4 Gy, respectively. The median cumulative Biologically Effective Dose (BED) calculated was 114.5 Gy₂ (range, 80-120 Gy₂). Six of seven (85.7%) ambulant patients maintained walking ability, whereas none of five not ambulant patients recovered the function. Median duration of response was 4.5 months (range, 1-24). The effect of reirradiation on motor function was significantly associated with walking capacity before reirradiation. Myelopathy was never recorded. Conclusions: In MSCC reirradiation was safe and effective. Patient walking capacity before reirradiation was the strongest prognostic factor for functional outcome. Reirradiation was given in about one-half of patients with in-field recurrence and different doses and fractionations were used, even though cumulative BED was in all cases ≤120 Gy₂.

[en] Gout is a relatively common, crystal deposition disease, in which monosodium urate crystals are deposited in joint and periarticular tissues of the extremities. Involvement of the spine is exceedingly rare. Most patients with spinal gout present with symptomatic spinal cord compression. Diffuse involvement of tophi deposition inside the spinal central canal has not been reported. We now present a case of chronic tophaceous gout with extensive spinal involvement that resulted in diffuse spinal cord compression and led to paraplegia.

[en] With the advances in microsurgical and monitoring techniques, spinal ependymomas are gross totally resected more frequently. The use of adjuvant radiotherapy has become questionable with gross total resection and its role for residual neoplasm need to be redefined. A retrospective analysis of a series of patients was carried out to investigate our clinical outcome and selected use of postoperative radiotherapy. Clinical materials and methods Between July 1990 and May 1995, nineteen patients [M : F = 12 : 7; age range: 21 to 71 years] with a spinal ependymoma were treated at University of Miami by the senior author. (BAG). Pre-operative MRI diagnosed the intraspinal tumor, and pathology reports demonstrated that each patient had a histologically confirmed ependymoma. At the time of diagnosis, the most common symptoms presented were pain (in 16 patients = 84.2%). The pattern of progression of clinical symptoms was directly related to the location of the tumor. Each patient had an MRI immediately after surgery, approximately 6 months post-operatively, and then annually. Results: All 19 patients underwent intradural microsurgical exploration with an attempted gross total resection (achieved in 16 patients = 79%) of the ependymoma through a posterior approach. Direct neural tissue stimulation halted further resection in 2 patients with questionable tumor margins. Radiation therapy was employed as a surgical adjunct in 3 patients (15.8%) because of possible residual tumor. All patients were followed up postoperatively for an average of 50.6 months (range 6 months to 6 years). All patients are surviving to date. Surgical resection of these tumors led to significant alleviation of pre-operative symptoms. There has been no radiographic evidence of tumor recurrence or growth in any patient to date. Conclusion: Surgical resection of spinal ependymoma leads to significant improvement of pre-operative symptom. Surgical removal alone, with an attempt to grossly resect the tumor, should be the treatment of choice, with careful clinical and radiographic follow-up. Radiation therapy should only be considered as a surgical adjunct where gross total resection is not achieved. (author)

[en] A CT description is presented of a spinal epidural hydatid cyst with preoperative diagnosis. (H.W.). 4 refs.; 3 figs