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World Neurosurg 2022 Jul 25;163. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Electronic address:

Although rare, intramedullary spinal cavernous malformations have a 1.4%-6.8% annual hemorrhage risk and can cause significant morbidity. Read More

World Neurosurg 2021 08 1;152:84-94. Epub 2021 Jun 1.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA; Section of Neurological Surgery, Surgery Service Line, Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Hemangioblastomas are benign vascular neoplasms of the central nervous system that may occur sporadically or in association with Von Hippel-Lindau disease. A minority of these lesions can occur in the spine, mostly as intramedullary masses. The authors present a rare case of primary sporadic spinal hemangioblastoma occurring as an intradural extramedullary (IDEM) lesion. Read More

Front Oncol 2020 9;10:907. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Departments of Radiation Oncology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.

Stereotactic radiation treatment can be used to treat spinal cord neoplasms in patients with either unresectable lesions or residual disease after surgical resection. While treatment guidelines have been suggested for epidural lesions, the utility of stereotactic radiation for intradural and intramedullary malignancies is still debated. Prior reports have suggested that stereotactic radiation approaches can be used for effective tumor control and symptom management. Read More

Neurol India 2020 Mar-Apr;68(2):448-453

Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Background: Spinal hemangiopericytoma is very rare tumors with only a few case reports and one case series. We have treated ten patients between 2004 and 2017 and, thus, present a retrospective review of our patients with a focus on clinical presentation, radiological features, management, pathology, and outcome.

Materials And Methods: Histopathological data were reviewed in all the cases and clinical and follow-up details were collected from data available in our department. Read More

J Neurooncol 2020 Feb 4;146(3):501-511. Epub 2020 Feb 4.

Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei City, Taiwan.

Introduction: Pediatric spinal tumors are unique pathologies treated by pediatric neurosurgeons. Special attention is required for the preservation of neural function and bony alignment. We reported our experience in the management of these challenging lesions. Read More

Yeungnam Univ J Med 2020 Apr 11;37(2):128-132. Epub 2019 Nov 11.

Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.

Tanycytic ependymoma is a rare variant of ependymoma that commonly affects the cervical and thoracic spinal cord. It usually arises as intramedullary lesions, and extramedullary cases are extremely rare. We report a case of a 44-year-old woman who was diagnosed with tanycytic ependymoma in her lumbar spine at level 2-3. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Feb 1;134:323-336. Epub 2019 Nov 1.

Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Background: Ependymomas are common intramedullary spinal tumors but there are scattered reports of this tumor presenting with exophytic growth patterns masquerading as intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tumors. Such IDEM ependymomas are seldom suspected preoperatively and it is only during surgery that their existence is revealed. Little is known of such rare growth patterns of an otherwise common intramedullary spinal cord tumor, their characteristics, and their management considerations. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2019 Oct 18;68:308-311. Epub 2019 Jul 18.

IRCCS, "Neuromed", Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy.

Background: Malignant Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumor are a relatively uncommon entity affecting patients whose prognosis is quickly and relentlessly dismal. Since the '50s Spinal Cordectomy' has been advocated for the surgical management of these conditions, but to date, no standard operative protocol has been reported yet.

Objective: Although apparently "easy", burdened by virtually no further risk for the neurological function in paraplegic or severely paraparetic patients, SCt conceals notable pitfalls and surgical problems that are to date not yet completely discussed. Read More

Ital J Pediatr 2019 Jul 12;45(1):80. Epub 2019 Jul 12.

Department of Pediatric Oncology, Santobono-Pausilipon Children's Hospital, Posillipo Street, 226, 80122, Naples, Italy.

Background: Malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) is associated withpoor prognosis and may lead to permanent paralysis, sensory loss, and sphincter dysfunction. Very limited data are available on incidence and etiology of MSCC in pediatric population. We aimed to examine etiology, clinical presentation and treatment of pediatric patient with MSCC admitted to the Santobono-Pausilipon Children's Hospital, Naples, Italy. Read More

Neuroradiol J 2019 Oct 16;32(5):335-343. Epub 2019 May 16.

1 Department of Neuroradiology, Montreal Neurological Hospital and Institute, McGill University, Canada.

Purpose: Melanotic schwannoma (MS) was formerly known as a rare variant of schwannoma. The behavior of MS is unpredictable, with a tendency for recurrence and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to illustrate the imaging characteristics of these rare and misdiagnosed tumors. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 05 24;125:451-455. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Department of Radiology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute Gurugram, Haryana, India.

Background: Intramedullary capillary hemangiomas are rare lesions with only 14 cases reported so far and are found in middle-aged persons. Until now only a single case has been reported in the pediatric population. Ours was the second pediatric case and the youngest of all to be diagnosed with an intramedullary capillary hemangioma. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2018 Dec 13;58:210-212. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

University of California San Francisco, Department of Neurological Surgery, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Importance: Advances in minimally invasive (MIS) and mini-open surgical approaches have led to reductions in perioperative morbidity without compromising rates of resection of non-degenerative intradural spinal pathologies. Whether these approaches may be adapted for the surgical resection for intramedullary vascular malformations - such as cavernous malformations (CMs) - has yet to be reported. The authors describe a mini-open transspinous approach to resect a ruptured intramedullary CM of the conus medullaris. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Jan 11;121:156-159. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.

Background: Intradural intramedullary lipomas without dysraphism are rare tumors. Although they appear extramedullary on imaging, they invade into the intramedullary substance of the spinal cord. We present 2 cases and discuss their clinical presentation, radiologic findings, and surgical management. Read More

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2018 06 10;169:98-102. Epub 2018 Mar 10.

Neurological Center, American British Cowdray (ABC) Medical Center, Mexico City, Mexico. Electronic address:

Objectives: The aim of the study is to present the therapeutic results of intradural tumor management over a 10 years period in a single institution.

Patients And Methods: The study consists in a prospective case series of patients treated at the neurosurgery service of the Social Security Institute of Mexico State and Provinces (ISSSEMYM), between January 2006 and December 2016. All patients were provided with information about the procedure and signed informed consent and institutional board approved files review for this study. Read More

Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2018 04;24(2, Spinal Cord Disorders):474-496

Purpose Of Review: This article discusses the diagnosis and management of neoplasms that affect the spinal cord as well as spinal cord disorders that can occur due to cancer treatments.

Recent Findings: Neoplastic myelopathies are uncommon neurologic disorders but cause significant morbidity when they occur. Primary spinal cord tumors can be classified into intramedullary, intradural extramedullary, or extradural tumors. Read More

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2018 04 16;167:117-121. Epub 2018 Feb 16.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai Showa-ward, Aichi, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan. Electronic address:

Objectives: Frozen sections are used to provide gross and rapid microscopic pathological information for guidance on intraoperative management and therapeutic decision-making. Many studies have shown the accuracy of frozen section diagnosis for intracranial lesions, but there are no studies focusing on spinal cord lesions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of intraoperative rapid diagnosis using frozen sections and to investigate limitations of this approach for spinal cord lesions. Read More

Neurosurg Rev 2019 Jun 17;42(2):371-388. Epub 2018 Feb 17.

Department of Neurosurgery, Vivantes Klinikum Neukölln, Berlin, Germany.

Among spinal tumors that occur intradurally, meningiomas, nerve sheath tumors, ependymomas, and astrocytomas are the most common. While a spinal MRI is the state of the art to diagnose intradural spinal tumors, in some cases CT scans, angiography, CSF analyses, and neurophysiological examination can be valuable. The management of these lesions depends not only on the histopathological diagnosis but also on the clinical presentation and the anatomical location, allowing either radical resection as with most extramedullary lesions or less invasive strategies as with intramedullary lesions. Read More

Folia Med (Plovdiv) 2017 Sep;59(3):357-361

Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Spinal neurofibroma is one of the rarest of the neoplasms involving the spinal cord or roots and occurs much less often than neurinoma, meningioma or glioma. The sixth pediatric case of solitary intramedullary tumor was described in 2013, according to B. Eljebbouri et al. Read More

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2017 02;28(1):101-114

Department of Neurology, Rehabilitation Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Sillerman Center for Rehabilitation, 515 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10022, USA; Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address:

Spinal tumors are classically grouped into 3 categories: extradural, intradural extramedullary, and intradural intramedullary. Spinal tumors may cause spinal cord compression and vascular compromise resulting in pain or neurologic compromise. They may also alter the architecture of the spinal column, resulting in spinal instability. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2016 Nov 28;33:221-225. Epub 2016 Aug 28.

Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address:

Spinal tumors are conventionally differentiated based on location in relation to the spinal cord. Benign spinal tumors such as schwannomas and meningiomas are typically extra-axial (intradural extramedullary) lesions, whereas more aggressive primary spinal tumors such as ependymomas are typically intramedullary masses. Rarely, ependymomas can have both intramedullary and extramedullary components (typically referred to as exophytic ependymomas). Read More

Neuroepidemiology 2016 19;46(1):14-23. Epub 2015 Nov 19.

Department of Surgery, Hx00F4;pital du Sacrx00E9;-Coeur de Montrx00E9;al, Montreal, Que., Canada.

Objective: Intradural spinal hemangioblastoma are infrequent, vascular, pathologically benign tumors occurring either sporadically or in association with von Hippel-Lindau disease along the neural axis. Described in fewer than 1,000 cases, literature is variable with respect to epidemiological factors associated with spinal hemangioblastoma and their treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of intradural spinal hemangioblastoma with the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database while also presenting an illustrative case. Read More

Global Spine J 2015 Oct 31;5(5):425-35. Epub 2015 Mar 31.

Department of Neurosurgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States.

Study Design Broad narrative review. Objectives Intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCT) are rare neoplasms that can potentially lead to severe neurologic deterioration, decreased function, poor quality of life, or death. As such, a better understanding of these lesions is needed. Read More

Neurosurgery 2016 Mar;78(3):E466-73

*Departments of Neurosurgery, ¶Pathology, Section of Neuropathology, ‖Neuro-Oncology, #Radiation Oncology, and **Neuroradiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; ‡Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; §Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas; ‡‡Current: Department of Neurosurgery, The Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.

Background And Importance: Spinal cord oligodendrogliomas are rare tumors, with a reported incidence varying between 0.8% and 4.7% of all spinal cord tumors and just over 50 cases reported in the literature. Read More

Eur Spine J 2015 May 8;24 Suppl 4:S606-13. Epub 2015 Feb 8.

Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Purpose: Hemangiopericytoma is a rare tumor of CNS with potential for recurrence and widespread metastasis, even outside CNS with even rare involvement of spinal cord. This case series presents five patients to evaluate the clinical presentation, radiological features, management, pathology and outcome of spinal hemangiopericytomas.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2013, five patients underwent surgery for spinal hemangiopericytoma. Read More

World Neurosurg 2014 Nov 24;82(5):836-47. Epub 2014 May 24.

Department of Neurosurgery, Acibadem University, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address:

Objective: Clinical characteristics and management of hemangioblastomas of the spinal cord associated with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome have been extensively covered in the literature. This report aims to analyze the characteristics and surgical treatment results of sporadic spinal hemangioblastomas (SSHB).

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 14 patients with SSHB (8 men and 6 women) operated on during a span of 23 years. Read More

Br J Neurosurg 2014 Oct 24;28(5):691-3. Epub 2014 Jan 24.

Departments of Neurosurgery, Rush University Medical Center , Chicago, IL , USA.

Disseminated spinal myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) is extremely rare in adults. We report a 63-year-old man with chronic low-back pain found to have multiple MPEs in the thoracic, lumbar and sacral spine. Diagnostic and management strategies of disseminated MPE are discussed with a review of pertinent literature. Read More

Turk Neurosurg 2013 ;23(5):600-6

Marmara University, Institution of Neurological Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey.

Aim: To determine the role of intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUSG) in the surgical management of patients with intradural spinal tumors.

Material And Methods: Twenty-six patients with intradural spinal cord tumors were surgically treated under intraoperative ultrasonographic guidance between January 2007 and May 2011. Guidance with IOUSG was used in 26 patients, of which 14 fourteen had extramedullary and 12 had intramedullary tumors. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2013 Sep 7;29(9):1647-55. Epub 2013 Sep 7.

Department of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, WC1N 3 JH, UK.

Background: Dermoid and epidermoid tumours are related though pathologically distinct entities that can be combined under the term inclusion cysts. Most are of developmental origin and in the spine may be intramedullary, intradural extramedullary or extraspinal in location. The terminology, aetiology, radiology and optimal management of spinal inclusion cysts have been the source of ongoing controversy. Read More

Eur Spine J 2013 May 5;22 Suppl 3:S450-9. Epub 2013 Jan 5.

Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Purpose: Hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a rare tumor of the central nervous system. Primary spinal occurrence of this tumor is extremely uncommon and cases involving the intramedullary spinal cord are even more rare. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical features, surgical strategies, outcome and pathology in a consecutive series of patients treated at a single institution. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2011 Jul 15;15(1):28-37. Epub 2011 Apr 15.

Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Neurological Surgery, New York, New York, USA.

Objective: Access to the ventral intradural spinal canal may be required for treatment of a variety of lesions affecting the spinal cord and adjacent intradural structures. Adequate exposure is usually achieved through a standard posterior laminectomy or posterolateral approaches, although formal anterior approaches are used to access lesions in the subaxial cervical spine. Modifications of the standard posterior exposure as well as ventral or ventrolateral approaches are increasingly being used for treating intradural spinal pathologies. Read More