The Outcome of Multidisciplinary Treatment of Spinal Tumors: Institutional Experience of a Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective: Spinal metastatic tumors are mostly extradural. Intradural extramedullary tumors include neurofibromas and meningiomas while intramedullary tumors are mostly astrocytoma and ependymoma. The purpose of this study was to share the experience of managing these patients as a multidisciplinary team (neurosurgeons, general surgeons, thoracic surgeons, ENT surgeons, plastic surgeons, and oncology) in selected cases where the tumors grow into the surrounding structures. Material and Methods:  This study was conducted at the Neurosurgery Department at Jinnah hospital Lahore from January 2021 to September 2022. 50 patients admitted to the Neurosurgery Department from OPD/emergency with the diagnosis of a spinal tumor confirmed on MRI were included in the study. Those patients who were unfit for surgery were not included in the study. Data was analyzed for gender, region, and location of the tumor, histopathological diagnosis, and multidisciplinary team involvement. Results:  Out of 50 patients, 28 (56%) patients were male and 22 (44%) patients were female while ages ranged from 14 to 63 years. Extradural location was the most frequently encountered location, i.e., 50%. Metastatic tumors were the commonest. A multidisciplinary treatment board was conducted in 31 (62%) patients whereas adjuvant treatment was done in 15 (30%) patients. Conclusion:  Multidisciplinary treatment of spinal tumors should be encouraged at tertiary care hospitals and routine multidisciplinary treatment boards conducted before and after surgical excision.