Intradural tumors of the cauda equina: a single institution review of clinical characteristics

A retrospective review of 106 cases of intradural tumors of the cauda equina are presented, subdivided into 5 groups according to their histological characteristics. For each group the clinical course and long-term postoperative results were analyzed: it emerged that differential diagnosis between neurinomas, meningiomas or non-tumoral lesions is not possible based on clinical findings alone and that neuroradiological diagnosis is more accurate when MRI is employed. Long-term prognosis was always favorable with the exception of the group of ependymomas. Nevertheless, early diagnosis in the latter group of tumors gives excellent results because prognosis is apparently directly correlated to the length of preoperative clinical history.