Primary tumors of the spine in children--natural history and management. 1990

First technical report of a pediatric case with thoracic Langerhans cell histiocytosis: Gross total tumor removal, corpectomy, and 360° stabilization via posterolateral approach at a single stage

Background:

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare nonmalignant disease characterized by a clonal proliferation of mononuclear cells called Langerhans histiocytes and infiltrates surrounding tissues, mostly self-limiting and usually occurring in the first two decades of life. Vertebral involvement is rare, mostly seen in the thoracic region, and involves the anterior elements of the corpus. In the literature, several treatment options and surgical approaches have been reported concerning the treatment of this disease and surgery.

Case Presentation:

We report an 18-month-old male with thoracic LCH who underwent surgery due to progressive neurological deficit. Gross total removal of the tumor with one level corpectomy in this patient was achieved via a posterolateral approach with postoperative functional improvement. The surgical cavity was supported by corpectomy cage and unilateral screw-rod fixation system at the same stage.

Conclusion:

Gross total tumor removal, corpectomy, and 360° stabilization via posterolateral approach at a single stage are safe, effective, and definite neurosurgical methods in terms of providing neurological recovery, long-term tumor-free survival, and spinal stability.

Lessons Learnt in Health Management: Paediatric Spinal Tumours: A 6-year Retrospective Review from Central India

Background:

From the management perspective, rare medical conditions do not attract enough attention, though their management can often be resource intensive. Increased awareness among health professionals can lead to early diagnosis of cases and prevention of complications leading to improved outcomes. Paediatric spinal tumours are rare disease entities with an annual incidence of approximately 1 per 1 million children. The profile of spinal tumours in the paediatric population is significantly different than that in adults. In this study we retrospectively analyse a heterogenous variety of paediatric spinal tumours which were treated at our institution over the last 6 years, with the goal of contributing to existing knowledge of this relatively rare disease entity.

Methods:

This retrospective study includes paediatric patients (under 18 years of age) who underwent surgery for primary spinal tumours from 2014 to 2019. The medical records were reviewed retrospectively and the information regarding clinical presentation, tumour location, operative findings, and postoperative status and functional outcome were analysed. The modified McCormick grade was used to assess the neurological status. Patients with spinal metastasis or incomplete medical records were excluded from the study.

Results:

Of 74 patients with primary spinal tumours operated at our centre between 2014 to 2019, a total of 8 patients (5 males and 3 females) who met the inclusion criteria were identified for the present study. The mean age of the patients included was 12.1±5.3 and the median follow-up period was 24 months. An improvement in the neurological status, as assessed by the modified McCormick grade, was seen in 37.5% of the patients. Three of the patients received adjuvant radiotherapy, post-surgical resection. A unique feature of this series was the wide variety of cases encountered, as each case had a different histopathological diagnosis, despite being limited by its sample size.

Conclusion:

Primary paediatric spinal cord tumours are rare, and surgical resection remains the treatment of choice. Adjuvant therapy is warranted in cases of high-grade lesions or recurrences. Through this study, we realised that due to its relative rarity and low incidence, a lack of public awareness can often lead to disproportionately increased morbidity and mortality. Prospective multi-centric studies can provide tools to help develop future management strategies for improved survival rates and reduced complications.

Primary osseous tumors of the pediatric spinal column: review of pathology and surgical decision making

Spinal column tumors are rare in children and young adults, accounting for only 1% of all spine and spinal cord tumors combined. They often present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. In this article, the authors review the current management of primary osseous tumors of the pediatric spinal column and highlight diagnosis, management, and surgical decision making.

Primary atlantoaxial bone tumors in children: management strategies and long-term follow-up

OBJECT

Atlantoaxial tumors account for a substantial proportion of primary bone tumors in children. Before resection, surgeons must consider the complex regional anatomy, the potential for neurological compromise, craniocervical instability, and the question of tumor resectability in a growing spine. Using current technology, the authors analyzed surgical cases in this light and present outcomes and treatment recommendations after long-term patient follow-up.

METHODS

The authors reviewed clinical records for 23 children whose primary atlantoaxial bone tumors were treated from 1996 through 2010.

RESULTS

Pathological lesions among the 23 patients were 4 aneurysmal bone cysts, 2 osteochondromas, 5 chordomas, 4 osteoblastomas, 3 fibrous dysplasias, 4 eosinophilic granulomas, and 1 Ewing's sarcoma. Clinical presentation consisted of neck pain (n = 23), headaches and occipital pain (n = 16), myelopathy (n = 8), and torticollis (n = 4). Selective angiography and coil embolization were undertaken for all patients with aneurysmal bone cysts and osteoblastomas, 2 patients with chordomas, 1 patient with fibrous dysplasia, and 1 patient with Ewing's sarcoma. Primary embolization treatment of radiation-induced aneurysmal bone cyst of the atlas showed complete reossification. Results of CT-guided needle biopsy were diagnostic for 1 patient with eosinophilic granuloma and 1 with Ewing's sarcoma. Needle biopsies performed before referral were associated with extreme blood loss for 1 patient and misdiagnosis for 2 patients. Surgery involved lateral extrapharyngeal, transoral, posterior, and posterolateral approaches with vertebral artery rerouting. Complete resection was possible for 9 patients (2 with osteochondroma, 3 with fibrous dysplasia, 2 with chordoma, and 2 with osteoblastoma). Decompression and internal fusion were performed for 3 patients with aneurysmal bone cysts. Of the 23 patients, 7 underwent dorsal fusion and 4 underwent ventral fusion of the axis body. Chemotherapy was necessary for the patients with eosinophilic granuloma with multifocal disease and for the patient with Ewing's sarcoma. There was no morbidity, and there were no deaths. All patients with benign lesions were free of disease at the time of the follow-up visit (mean ± SD follow-up 8.8 ± 1.1 years; range 2-18 years). Chordomas received proton or LINAC irradiation, and as of 4-15 years of follow-up, no recurrence has been noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Because most atlantoaxial tumors in children are benign, an intralesional procedure could suffice. Vascular control and staged resection are critical. Ventral transoral fusion or lateral extrapharyngeal fusion has been successful. Resection with ventral fusion and reconstruction are essential for vertebral body collapse. Management of eosinophilic granulomas must be individualized and might require diagnosis through needle biopsy.

Pediatric extradural spinal tumors

We have reviewed 16 children with extradural spinal tumors, both benign and malignant, treated from 1998 to 2006 in Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India. The duration of symptomatology, clinical signs, radiological investigations, surgical approach, outcome and histopathological variation from the Western world was noted and evaluated. The age of these children ranged from 3 to 20 years. There were 11 boys and 5 girls. The duration of symptoms was 2-18 months, relatively longer in benign (mean 9.5 months) than malignant (mean 4.2 months) tumors. The follow-up ranged from 3 to 72 months and patients were graded preoperatively and postoperatively with the McCormick Functional Grading System. There was significant improvement in grade III-V patients, i.e. 74% of patients were grade III-IV at presentation, and only 35% at the last follow-up. There was deterioration from grade III to grade IV in 2 patients (PNET + metastatic adenocarcinoma) and 2 patients (neuroblastoma + Ewing's sarcoma) maintained their grades of IV and V, respectively. There was a wide range of histological variants seen in our series and the patients were treated primarily with a suitable surgical approach and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, wherever indicated.

Pediatric vertebral and spinal epidural tumors: a retrospective review of twelve cases

OBJECTIVE

Pediatric vertebral tumors are rare, and most of the reported series have limited numbers of cases. Diagnosis of these tumors is difficult because of the patients' age and the rarity of the lesions. We aimed to report the clinical, radiological and pathological characteristics in a small series of pediatric vertebral and spinal epidural tumors and to discuss diagnostic and treatment difficulties.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twelve consecutive pediatric cases with vertebral or spinal epidural tumors were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The mean age was 12.6 years, and male and female patients were equal in number. The most common symptom was pain. There were some neurological or local findings in all patients, and there were some positive results on plain radiographs in all cases except 2. The tumors were removed totally in 9 cases. There were histologically malignant lesions in 3 and benign lesions in 9 cases. Three patients with malignant tumors were treated by radiotherapy and 2 by chemotherapy. One patient with thoracic hemangioma was also treated by embolization after surgery. One case with cervical Dabska's tumor died due to air embolization. The other patients were followed for 48.3 months. The preoperative neurological deficits were resolved completely in all patients except the one with only biopsy performed at the last follow-up. There were no new spinal deformities on follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Children with vertebral tumors and spinal epidural tumors usually present with pain and neurological deficits or local findings, and there are some indications on plain radiographs. Therefore, a careful physical examination and detailed evaluation of radiographs may minimize the rate of misdiagnosis and underestimation. Most of these tumors are benign, therefore, their outcome is good, and cure may be possible for many of the cases.

Orthopaedic implications in the management of pediatric vertebral and spinal cord tumors: a retrospective review

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review of pediatric patients with vertebral and spinal cord tumors.

OBJECTIVES

To identify clinical and radiographic features of diagnostic importance, and to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical treatment with respect to complications in pediatric patients with vertebral and spinal cord tumors.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND

Vertebral and spinal cord tumors in children are uncommon and present a significant challenge in diagnosis, treatment, and management of complications. Because most signs and symptoms of these tumors are musculoskeletal in nature, it is imperative for orthopedic surgeons to be familiar with them.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical charts and radiographic records of 26 pediatric patients with documented vertebral and spinal cord tumors were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

There were 10 malignant and 16 benign tumors. Mean age at diagnosis was 10 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1:1. Mean clinical follow-up was 25.8 months. The average delay in diagnosis was 10.9 months. The two most common reasons for presentation were pain (n = 20, 76%) and neurologic involvement (n = 14, 54%). Initial plain radiographs were positive in 72% of patients, whereas MRI showed the tumor in 96% of studies. Sixteen patients underwent spinal fusion after excision of the tumor. There were no perioperative deaths. Complications were common, with an average of 1.1 complications per patient. At latest follow-up, six patients had neurologic deficits, two patients had died, and one patient was terminally ill.

CONCLUSION

Increased awareness of modes of presentation, use of modern imaging techniques, and an aggressive approach to spinal stabilization at the time of laminectomy should decrease morbidity in patients with vertebral and spinal cord tumors.

Spinal tumour: a diagnostic lesson

Images

Primary tumors of the spine in children. Natural history, management, and long-term follow-up

STUDY DESIGN

Patients 16 years of age and younger with primary vertebral neoplasms diagnosed between 1951 and 1996 at The University of Iowa were reviewed retrospectively with specific consideration given to follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

Follow-up extending beyond the growth of the axial skeleton was used to establish the natural history, management outcome, and current approach to treatment.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Primary tumors of the spine are uncommon. The treatment of such lesions generally has been based on small series of tumors, or extrapolated from the treatment of tumors in other regions and tumors in adults. Given the unique developing anatomy and dynamic nature of the growing spine in children, delineating appropriate modalities of treatment for these tumors beyond the growth of the axial skeleton is essential.

METHODS

Clinical history, radiographs, radiographic reports, and interviews were used to establish this database. Outcome with respect to the various approaches to treatment was then compared in detail.

RESULTS

Forty-five patients were identified in which follow-up greater than 10 years was available for 58% of patients. There were 29 histologically benign and 16 malignant tumors. Patients presented most frequently with pain (79%) and neurologic deficits (74%). The duration of symptoms was significantly shorter with malignant tumors (11 weeks) compared with benign tumors (26 weeks). Radiographic abnormalities were demonstrated on plain radiographs in 98% of cases. Tumor excision was achieved in 80%. Follow-up studies were available beyond the growth of the axial skeleton in these patients, with an average follow-up of 14 years. Recurrence was seen in 6 of 45 children, and the overall mortality rate was 6.7%, occurring only with malignant tumors.

CONCLUSION

Our current approach to treatment of spinal neoplasms varies from that used in the earlier part of the series and reflects the need for single stage complete resection and stabilization.