A Novel and Reproducible Classification of Cervical Dumbbell Tumors to Inform Surgical Approach and Reconstruction Techniques

• Published in: Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976) Pa. 1976), 2024-05, Vol.49 (10), p.715-725
• Main Authors: Yang, Minglei, Zhong, Nanzhe, Lou, Yan, Jiang, Dongjie, Liu, Yujie, Dai, Zeyu, Wan, Wei, Jiao, Jian, Yang, Xinghai, Xiao, Jianru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cervical Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging; Cervical Vertebrae - surgery; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Middle Aged; Plastic Surgery Procedures - methods; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Spinal Neoplasms - classification; Spinal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Neoplasms - surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0362-2436; 1528-1159
• DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000004927

A retrospective case series. This study developed a novel classification system based on imaging and anatomy to select optimal surgical approaches and reconstruction strategies to achieve total resection of cervical dumbbell tumors and restore spinal stability. Total resection is necessary to decrease the recurrence rate of cervical dumbbell tumors. Previous cervical dumbbell tumor classifications are insufficient for determining surgical strategies; therefore, a practical classification is needed. This study included 295 consecutive patients with cervical dumbbell tumors who underwent total surgical resection. A novel classification of cervical dumbbell tumors was developed based on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. Continuous variables were expressed as mean±SD and were compared using an unpaired two-tailed Student t test. The χ 2 test or the Fisher exact test was used for categorical variables. Kendall's W test assessed three independent raters' inter-rater and intrarater reliabilities on 140 cervical dumbbell tumors. The inter-rater and intrarater consistency coefficient was 0.969 (χ 2 =404.3, P