Thoracic laminectomy and midline myelotomy for resection of a spinal ependymoma

Authors

Lea Scherschinski, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
Ethan A. Winkler, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
Charuta G. Furey, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
Timothy C. Gooldy, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
Joshua S. Catapano, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
Michael T. Lawton, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Spinal cord ependymomas comprise 25% of all intramedullary tumors and are typically treated with resection. A man in his mid-60s presented with imbalance and sensory deficits in both lower extremities, and a spinal thoracic intramedullary ependymoma spanning the levels T2 and T3 was diagnosed. After a laminectomy was performed, the tumor was microsurgically resected, and the patient demonstrated no neurological deficits on postoperative examination. Subsequent MRI showed complete resection of the tumor. This video showcases a thoracic intramedullary ependymoma resected using careful microdissection into the median raphe as a safe entry zone to preserve neurological function.

Publication Date

10-1-2023

Publication Title

Neurosurgical focus: Video

E-ISSN

2643-5217

Volume

9

Issue

2

First Page

V15

PubMed ID

37854657

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3171/2023.6.FOCVID2386

Recommended Citation

Scherschinski, Lea; Winkler, Ethan A.; Furey, Charuta G.; Gooldy, Timothy C.; Catapano, Joshua S.; and Lawton, Michael T., "Thoracic laminectomy and midline myelotomy for resection of a spinal ependymoma" (2023). Neurosurgery. 1960.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurosurgery/1960