Spinal tumours of childhood.

Spinal tumours in children have different features and require different management than in adults; 20 patients under the age of 14 years are reported--the common presenting features were limb weakness, pain and spinal deformity. Eight tumours were extradural and 12 intradural of which 3 were intramedullary. The 6 patients who did not do well postoperatively were found to have a malignant tumour or were completely paraplegic or quadriplegic before surgery. If detected and treated early, results are excellent in many cases, since the tumours are usually benign.