5-Aminolevulinic acid fluorescence-guided surgery for spinal meningioma

Abstract

Objective: Fluorescence-guided surgery for cranial meningioma has been reported to be useful. There are no reports about spinal cases using this technique. We report on a meningioma of the cervical spine for which fluorescence-guided surgery was used.

Case description: A 78-year-old female patient with a meningioma located in the cervical spine underwent surgery using fluorescence guidance. After complete removal of the meningioma and removal and coagulation of the dural attachment (equal to Simpson grade II resection), a fluorescence-positive remnant could be identified and successfully removed. The remnant was found to harbor meningioma tissue on histological examination.

Conclusions: Fluorescence-guided microsurgery is helpful in achieving a total resection of spinal meningiomas, and might therefore reduce the risk of recurrence.

Keywords: 5-ALA; 5-Aminolevulinic acid; 5-aminolevulinic acid; CSF; Cerebrospinal fluid; Fluorescence-guided surgery; MRI; Magnetic resonance imaging; SEP; Somatosensory evoked potentials; Spinal meningioma; UV; Ultraviolet; WHO; World Health Organization.