Microsurgical removal of intramedullary spinal cord tumors.

Eleven cases of microsurgical removal of intramedullary spinal cord tumors are reported. Difficulties previously recorded with removal of astrocytomas were not encountered in five such tumors of this series. None of these patients was significantly worse and seven out of the eleven patients were improved following surgery. The effects of prior surgery and radiotherapy on the tumor and normal spinal cord are discussed in detail.