Spine
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A retrospective multicenter study of series of 20 patients with myxopapillary ependymomas, which underwent surgery. OBJECTIVE.: To evaluate the postoperative outcomes of patients surgically treated for spinal myxopapillary ependymoma. Neurologic deterioration after tumor resection is discussed in terms of the tumor encapsulation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Myxopapillary ependymomas occur most commonly in the cauda equina and/or conus medullaris region. Most series published in the literature have covered postoperative tumor recurrence and role of adjuvant radiotherapy. Few contradistinctive studies in postoperative neurological deficit were reviewed from the standpoints of MRI and histopathologic findings. ⋯ In the unencapsulated ependymomas, tumor separation and manipulation of the surrounding neural tissue caused neurologic injury. The heterogeneously enhanced ependymoma not only should be evaluated and treated meticulously, but also surgeons should not stick to total removal in infiltrated and adhering tumors as subtotally resected tumors with postoperative radiotherapy have not always recurred.
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A case report. ⋯ Although stress fractures of the spinous process are very rare and can be overlooked in clinical settings, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of severe dorsal neck pain in golfers, especially beginners.