The impact of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in spinal cord astrocytoma-surgery

Objective: Surgery for intramedullary spinal cord tumors, especially intramedullary spinal cord astrocytomas, is associated with a high risk of new postoperative neurologic deficit. While the literature supports the role of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (INM) in intramedullary spinal cord tumor (ISCT) surgery, it remains unclear whether different histotypes of ISCT benefit of INM to a different extend. We therefore retrospectively analyzed the functional and neurooncological outcome in a series of spinal cord astrocytomas operated on under INM assistance. Methods: Between 2001 and 2008 32 patients…