Four Cases of Dumbbell Tumor of Cervical Spine

In the past 10 years from 1989 to 1998, we treated surgically four cases of cervical dumbbell tumor. Two patients were male and two were female, and their mean age was 52 years (range; 50 to 57). The mean duration of follow-up was 2 years and 5 months (range; 6 months to 6 years).According to Eden's classification, three cases belonged to type II, and one case to type III. Three patients underwent hemifacetectomy without facet fusion, and one anterior spinal fusion. In pathological examination, three were neurinoma and one was solitary fibrous tumor.The clinical results were evaluated by the JOA score, and the radiological results were evaluated by lordortic angle, range of motion, rotational angle, and degree of slip of cervical spine.As a result, the JOA score improved and no instability and malalignment of cervical spine was seen in all cases. Good results were thus obtained in a short term after operation.