Spinal Cord Tumors with Minimal Neurologic Findings

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Abstract
The diagnosis and localization of intraspinal cord tumors can sometimes be made before definite neurologic changes develop, and it is important to recognize these lesions before serious, irreparable damage to the spinal cord occurs. In a review of 150 verified spinal cord tumors, 37 are here reported. Of these, 32 exhibited no definite or localizing neurologic signs at the time operation was performed, and the remaining 5 were neurologically negative at the time of their original examination but developed definite signs while under observation. The only constant symptom in these patients was pain, which was the primary complaint in all cases. The pains were not typical either in character or in location; the duration of illness varied from 2 mos. to 27 yrs.; and the ages of the patients ranged from 11-72 yrs. In the vast majority of cases the pain occurred at night or was increased by lying down and could be induced or intensified by coughing, sneezing or straining. X-ray examination of the spinal column indicated the presence of the tumor in 10 of the 37 cases. The spinal fluid protein was elevated in 26 of the 29 instances in which it was studied. Myelography was of aid in localization of the spinal cord tumor in 90% of the patients.
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