A contribution to the symptomatology and surgical treatment of spinal cord tumors / by J. Ramsay Hunt and George Woolsey.

  • Hunt, James Ramsay, 1872-1937.
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A contribution to the symptomatology and surgical treatment of spinal cord tumors / by J. Ramsay Hunt and George Woolsey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    f.. fc’tf »?1 ^22 HUNT AND WOOLSEY. Histological examination of the spinal cord, including its roots, the cauda equina, and several spinal ganglia, fail to reveal any evidences of neurofibromatosis, with the exception of the tumor which had compressed the fifth cervical segment. So far, therefore, as the spinal axis is concerned, it was a solitary manifestation of the neurofibromatosis. Unfor- tunately, the brain and peripheral nerves were not available for examination. A solitary neurofibroma of the spinal axis as a complication of a generalized dermal neurofibromatosis may occur, but usually the tumors are multiple and are asso- ciated with varicose thickenings and nodosities of the nerve- roots. A case of this description I have already reported in detail,13—one in which an intravertebral neurofibroma in the cervical region had produced a complete destruction of the cord. In addition to this single large growth, all of the an- terior and posterior roots in the cervical region were the seats of nodular tumor formation, and many of the spinal ganglia were similarly involved. There was also extensive neuro- fibromatosis of the peripheral nerve-trunks, and a large plexi- form neuroma was situated in the subcutaneous tissues of the lower abdominal region. . f -M. - Case VIII (Summary).—Intramedullary tumor of the upper cervical region, fourteen years’ duration. Onset with pain, last- ing three years, followed by progressive spastic paralysis of the left arm and leg, and a contralateral ancesthesia (Brown-Sequard paralysis); slow progression of symptoms, with gradually in- creasing weakness of the left side, and ataxia and ancesthesia of the right. Exploratory Operation.—Third, fourth, and fifth cervical lamince removed. Cord normal but somewhat swollen Evacua- tion of two drachms of cystic fluid from the interior of the cord on its posterior aspect. [Referred to Dr. Ramsay Hunt by Dr. H. S. Paterson, of New \ ork.] Woman, aged thirty-six, nurse-maid by occupation. No history of injury. History (October 17, 1907).—Her present illness dates back twelve years and began with shooting pains in the posterior