Preliminary Review of Spine Tumor Radiologic, Intraoperative and Histopathology Findings, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction: Spinal tumor constitutes 10-32% of all primary central nervous system tumors. Accurate radiologic and histopathologic diagnosis is crucial in the managment and prognosis. The aim of the study was to describe the imaging pattern and to determine the agreement of imaging pattern of spinal tumors with intra-operative and histopathology findings.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 47 patients with spinal tumor done from may 2018 to October 2020. Medical records were reviwed for clinical data, history, physical examination, magnetic (MRI), Intraoperative finding and Histopathology reports. The agreement between imaging, Intraoperative finding and histopathology diagnosis was analyzed.

Results: Intradural extramedullary tumors constituted 37 (78%) cases followed by six (12.8%) extradural tumors and four (9.2%) intramedullary tumors. Schwanoma accounted for 13 (27.7%) cases followed by 12 (25.5%) cases of Meningioma. Thoracic level tumors accounted the majoriy (57.4%) followed by cervical region tumors (19.1%). Twelve (25.5%) cases did not have a definite Intraoperative diagnosis. imaging and intraoperative diagnosis was in agreement in 21 (44.6%) cases and disagreed in 14 (29.7%) cases. For the imaging diagnosis and histopathology, 29 (61.7%) were in agreement and 18 (38.3%) were in disagreement.

Conclusion : In conclusion, the commonest site to be involved was the thoracic spine and schwanoma was the commonest tumor. The low agreement between imaging and histopathology could have been improved by oprtimizing the imaging reports and techniques.