Asian Spine J.  2019 Feb;13(1):119-125. 10.31616/asj.2018.0165.

Fluorescence Guided Surgery with 5-Aminolevulinic Acid for Resection of Spinal Cord Ependymomas

• Moreno RG
• García LM
• Bastidas H
• Tirado CA
• Flores AM
• Cabezas JP
• Artero JM

• KMID: 2441546
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.31616/asj.2018.0165

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. PURPOSE: We report our experience with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-assisted resection of spinal cord ependymomas in adults. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Ependymoma is the most frequent primary spinal cord tumor in adults. Surgery is the treatment of choice in most cases. However, while complete resection is achieved in approximately 80% of cases, clinical improvement is achieved in 15% only. Five-ALA fluorescence-guided surgery seems to be useful for this tumor type.
METHODS
We studied 14 patients undergoing 5-ALA fluorescence-guided surgery for spinal cord ependymomas in our service. The modified McCormick classification was used to determine clinical status and the degree of resection was assessed with magnetic resonance imaging.
RESULTS
Of the 14 patients, the tumor showed an intense emission of fluorescence in 12 and the fluorescence was weak and nonuniform in two. Complete resection was achieved in 11 cases. According to the McCormick classification, 10 patients improved, two remained the same, and two deteriorated.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm that 5-ALA fluorescence-guided resection is useful in spinal cord ependymoma resection. Although the rate of complete resections is similar to that in published series without 5-ALA, clinical results are better when using 5-ALA with a lower percentage of clinical deterioration.

Keyword

Spinal cord; Ependymoma; Aminolevulinic acid; Fluorescence guided surgery

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aminolevulinic Acid
Classification
Ependymoma*
Fluorescence*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Retrospective Studies
Spinal Cord Neoplasms
Spinal Cord*
Aminolevulinic Acid