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Surgical considerations of spinal ependymomas in the pediatric population

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Abstract

Objectives

The objective of this manuscript is to discuss current management strategies regarding pediatric patients with intramedullary spinal cord ependymomas. Spinal ependymoma is the second most common spinal cord tumor in children. The clinical evaluation of these patients, operative techniques, postoperative management considerations, and long-term outcomes are discussed.

Introduction

The gold standard for the treatment of spinal ependymoma continues to be gross total resection. Patients with residual tumor postoperatively may benefit from adjuvant radiation therapy. Intraoperative monitoring is critical to minimize permanent postoperative neurologic deficit.

Conclusion

Patients requiring multilevel laminectomy may benefit from concomitant laminoplasty or instrumented fusion to avoid progressive spinal column deformity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Meyer Bldg. 8-161, 600 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Wesley Hsu, Gustavo Pradilla & George I. Jallo

  2. Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Dana Children’s Hospital, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Shlomi Constantini

Authors
  1. Wesley Hsu
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  2. Gustavo Pradilla
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  3. Shlomi Constantini
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  4. George I. Jallo
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Correspondence to Wesley Hsu.

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Hsu, W., Pradilla, G., Constantini, S. et al. Surgical considerations of spinal ependymomas in the pediatric population. Childs Nerv Syst 25, 1253–1259 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-009-0882-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-009-0882-y

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