Open microsurgical tumor excavation and vertebroplasty for metastatic destruction of the second cervical vertebra-outcome in seven cases.

Background Context: Metastatic osteolytic involvement of the second cervical vertebra (C2) is rare, but usually very painful. Percutaneous vertebroplasty has shown to be effective regarding pain control, but carries the risk of cement leakage.

Purpose: To describe an alternative microsurgical procedure suitable for patients suffering from C2 osteolysis who are considered to be high risk with respect to cement leakage.

Hypermetabolism in 18F-FDG PET predicts favorable outcome following decompressive surgery in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the regional changes of glucose metabolism of the cervical spinal cord in patients with degenerative cervical spine stenosis and symptomatic cervical myelopathy after decompressive surgery using (18)F-FDG PET.

Methods: Twenty patients with symptomatic degenerative monosegmental cervical stenosis with neuroradiologic signs of spinal cord compression underwent decompressive surgery. The clinical course using a functional status score (Japanese Orthopedic Association [JOA] score), (18)F-FDG uptake, and MR imaging were assessed before and at follow-up 12 mo after surgery.

Transtubular microsurgical approach to treating extraforaminal lumbar disc herniations.

Object: Approaches to treating extraforaminal lumbar disc herniations can be challenging due to the unique anatomy and the need to prevent spinal instability. Numerous approaches, including conventional midline, paramedian, minimally invasive, and full endoscopic approaches, have been described. The purposes of this study were to point out the outcome and clinical advantages of a transtubular microsurgical approach and to describe and illustrate this technique.

Prognostic value of 18F-FDG PET in monosegmental stenosis and myelopathy of the cervical spinal cord.

Unlabelled: MRI offers perfect visualization of spondylotic stenosis of the cervical spine, but morphologic imaging does not correlate with clinical symptoms and postoperative recovery after decompression surgery. In this prospective study, we investigated the role of (18)F-FDG PET in patients with degenerative stenosis of the cervical spinal cord in relation to postsurgical outcome.

Methods: Twenty patients with monosegmental spondylotic stenosis of the middle cervical spine (C3/C4 or C4/C5) showing intramedullary hyperintensity on T2-weighted MRI and clinical symptoms of myelopathy (myelopathic patients) were investigated by (18)F-FDG PET.