Abstract
Three cases of dumb-bell tumors of the cervical spinal cord are presented. The subjects were treated between 1979 and 1988.
Case 1 Y. M. was a 10-year-old boy.
Radiology showed a space occupying lesion from C5 to T1 and a large neurinoma (Eden type 2, Antoni A type) was excised through a posterior approach. Posterior fusion was also performed.
Case 2 Y. H. was a 34-year-old woman.
The tumor was an Eden type 3 neurofibroma which extended from C5 to T1. The tumor was removed via an anterior approach and anterior body fusion was carried out simultaneously.
Case 3 K. S. was a 37-year-old man.
An Eden type 4, Antoni B type neurinoma extended from C5 to C6. The anterior approach was used, and it was not necessary to perform intervertebral fusion in this case.
Dumb-bell tumors are so varied that they cause many problems for surgeons, approaches or reconstruction of a stable spine.
In case 1. Spinal deformity or instability may occur early because multiple laminectomies were performed in child.
Following such developments, we would perform anterior body fusion promptly.
