A clinicopathological study of lesions of spinal cord and its coverings: A tertiary care hospital experience

  • Nitin M Gadgil Professor (Addl),Dept of Pathology LTMMC & LTMGH,Sion,Mumbai
  • Chetan Sudhakar Chaudhari Assistant Professor,Dept of Pathology LTMMC & LTMGH,Sion,Mumbai
  • Sangeeta R Margam Assistant Professor,Dept of Pathology LTMMC & LTMGH,Sion,Mumbai
  • Mohd.Unzer Mohd.Umar Khan Senior Resident,Dept of Pathology LTMMC & LTMGH,Sion,Mumbai
  • Prashant Vijay Kumavat Assistant Professor,Dept of Pathology LTMMC & LTMGH,Sion,Mumbai
  • Ganesh R Kshirsagar Assistant Professor,Dept of Pathology LTMMC & LTMGH,Sion,Mumbai
Keywords: Spinal cord tumours, extramedullary, extradural, intradural

Abstract

Background: The human central nervous system is highly evolved and an enormously complex system. Aim of our study was to analyse the clinical and radiological spectrum of spinal cord lesions with histopathological morphology, according to recent WHO classification of tumors of Central Nervous System and to highlight any changing trends in the spinal cord lesions if detected in context of Indian patient’s profile.   Methods: Our study comprised of a total 85 surgical resection specimens of lesions of spinal cord and its covering studied over a consecutive period of 12 years in a tertiary care hospital. Primary vertebral tumors and paraspinal soft tissue lesions were excluded. Descriptive cross-sectional study of cases including  detailed clinical data of age, sex, duration of disease, type of lesion, and radiological findings of the patients was obtained. All cases were analyzed by examining Hematoxylin and Eosin stained slides with use of special stains and immunohistochemistry, as needed.Result: Male predominance was noted with ratio of 1.3:1 with maximum cases seen in 21-40 years. Pain was the most frequent symptom, followed by paraplegia and sensory dysfunction. Thoracic segment of the spinal cord was most commonly involved, followed by lumbar and cervical .The most common site was extradural , followed by intradural  extramedullary and intradural intramedullary lesions. Out of total, we had 69.4% cases of tumors of spinal cord and its covering, 23.5% intraspinal tuberculosis and 7.1% cases of benign cystic lesions. Amongst the tumors,Commonest tumor was Nerve sheath tumors ( 42%) followed by meningioma ( 25% ), astrocytoma (12.5%), metastasis (8%), ependymoma (7%). There were single rare cases of glioblastoma multiforme,paraganglioma, ganglioneuroma, PNET. Conclusion: Tumors of spinal cord are considered to be rare .The management of spinal cord lesions requires proper diagnosis which depends on clinical manifestation, radiography and its correlation with histological type and grade.

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Published
2016-08-10
Issue
Vol 3 No 3 (2016)
Section
Original Article

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