Neurosurgical Forum Transpsoas Approach

119 deficit are most likely to occur in dorsal tumor cases. The psammomatous type of tumor can be removed piecemeal. But the total calcification type of tumor should sometimes be removed piecemeal to protect the spinal cord. In our case series, calcified meningiomas were pathologically diagnosed in all of the patients, or the tumor could not be confirmed as ossified meningiomas because the diagnosis of ossified meningioma is confirmed by observing bone trabecula. Ossified meningiomas were also diagnosed in some patients, who will be discussed in another case series in the future. In their report of 97 spinal meningiomas, Levy et al.1 found only 4 cases of calcification. Three of these 4 patients had a “disastrous surgical outcome.” Roux et al.2 reported on 3 ossified meningiomas among 54 spinal meningiomas, with an even worse outcome. In our series, the surgical outcome was much better. In conclusion, we believe that the preoperative diagnosis, location, and pathological type of calcified meningioma are important to patient outcome. Qing Zhu, M.d. Jianru Xiao, M.d. Ming Qian, M.d. ZhiPeng Wu, M.d. Spinal Tumor Center Shanghai Changzheng Hospital Second Military Medical University Lifei Wang, M.P.h. School of Public Health Fudan University Shanghai, China