Primary intramedullary spinal cord tumor is rare, then literature for the management of these tumor is controversial. We experienced a primary spinal cord tumor with was confined to intradural and intramedullary area by magnetic resonance image.
Because of the location of this tumor was 4th to 5th cervical vertebra and very diffuse infiltrative nature, operative mortality and morbidity was high(especially, respiratory failure due to phrenic nerve palsy and quadriplegia.) then we did not
get any
pathologic specimen. Despite lack of the pathologic confirmation, we treated this tumor curatively combined with Co-60 megavoltage external beam irradiation and Hyperthermia, with minimizing the spinal cord damage. Three, nine, and eleven month
after
treatment, follow up M. R. showed complete regression of previous intramedullary tumor with multifocal myelomalacia and atropy of spinal cord. We will continue follow up for the local recurrance with clinical symptomatic change and imaging study,
and we
should close observation and conservative management of mutifocal myelomalacia.
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