Background: Spinal schwannomas are common tumors of spinal neoplasm\nand account for about 25% of intradural spinal cord tumors in adults. They\nare generally benign and slow-growing. Advanced in radiologic and surgical\ntechniques have brought about better surgical results. The goal of surgical\ntreatment must be total resection if possible. In this report, the authors\npresent the incidence, clinical presentation, localization, and results of surgically\ntreated spinal schwannomas. The results of a literature review are also\npresented. Methods: Eleven consecutive patients with histologically confirmed\nspinal schwannomas were treated from January 2013 to December\n2016 in the neurosurgical department of Gabriel Touré Hospital, Bamako,\nMali. Neuroradiological diagnosis was made, CT scan in 7 patients, and MRI\nin 4 patients. All patients were operated on via the posterior approach. All\ncases were surgically excised, and they were confirmed to be schwannomas by\npathologists. The patients were followed for 6 to 38 months (mean 28 months).\nFunctional outcome was assessed using the motor grade and sensory change.\nResults: There were 11 patients with 7 (63.6%) males and 4 (36.4%) females.\nThe mean age was 40.3 years (range 23 - 62 years). The most common symptom\nat the time of diagnosis was radicular pain in 9 (81.8%) patients followed\nby motor weakness in 8 (72.7%) patients. The most frequent site of spinal\nschwannomas was the thoracic region in 5 (45.5%) patients. During surgery,\nGross-total resection was achieved in 8 patients (72.7%) and subtotal removal\nin 3 (27.3%) patients. Histological findings were benign schwannoma in all cases. Postoperative complications developed in two patients, including one\nwith cerebrospinal fluid leakage and other one with wound infection. In the\nshort-term follow-up period, most of the patients (90.9%) appeared to be improved\nin comparison with their preoperative neurological status. There was\nno operative mortality. Conclusion: In this study, the clinical manifestations\nand surgical results of 11 cases of spinal schwannoma have been reviewed.\nEarly diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential for good outcome.
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