INTRAMEDULLARY LESIONS OF THE SPINAL CORD

Intensive search through the literature on tumors of the spinal cord reveals a surprisingly incomplete knowledge of the various pathologic types of intramedullary lesions in relation to surgical treatment and postoperative course. It is the purpose of this paper to present as complete an analysis as possible of 68 consecutive cases of intramedullary lesions of the spinal cord in which operation was performed at the University Hospital between 1925 and 1943. In 35 of these cases the lesion was a tumor verified by pathologic diagnosis; in 4 cases tissue for histopathologic study was not obtained, and in 5 cases a hemangiomatous tumor, presenting both extramedullary and intramedullary characteristics, was observed. In 4 cases the clinical diagnosis of intramedullary lesion was without confirmation by operation, and in 20 cases syringomyelia was present. We have been able to make follow-up observations to date, until death or for periods longer than one year