Relationship between intradural extramedullary spinal tumors and blood biochemical values: a clinical study

Aims: Because the radiological imaging methods may be inadequate in distinguishing extradural intramedullary spinal tumors, histopathological examination methods are still the gold standard. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between extradural intramedullary spinal tumors and blood count and blood biochemistry parameters, and to present auxiliary parameters that may predict the histopathological diagnosis of these tumors before surgery. Methods: Patients with extradural intramedullary spinal tumors who underwent surgical intervention and healthy individuals were included in the study. Then they were divided into the Control group (healthy individuals; n=14) and the STM group (patients with extradural intramedullary spinal tumors; n=13). In addition, after excluding the control group patients and one patient each with ependymoma and cavernous hemangioma, they were divided into the schwannoma group (patients diagnosed with spinal schwannoma, n=6) and the meningioma group (patients diagnosed with spinal meningioma, n=5). Blood count results and biochemistry findings were analyzed. Results: Leukocyte count results differed between the control and STM groups (t=2.332, p=0.028). ROC-Curve analysis showed that if the hematocrit level was <40.75% (p=0.042) and if the leukocyte count was <8195 uL, these parameters could differentiate patients with IDEM from healthy individuals (p=0.031). Logistic Regression analysis revealed that only leukocyte count was the best predictive marker in distinguishing the IDEM (p=0.041). However, these parameters could not differentiate the patients with extradural intramedullary spinal tumors from healthy subjects because the parameter results were within average laboratory values. In addition, any study parameter could differentiate schwannoma patients from meningioma patients. Conclusion: At the end of the study, it was concluded that the blood count and blood biochemistry analysis results could not distinguish spinal tumors from healthy individuals in clinical practice. It was also seen that these parameters could not distinguish spinal schwannomas from meningiomas. On the other hand, it was argued that intradural extramedullary spinal tumors did not increase or decrease blood count results and serum CRP levels in patients. As a result, they did not cause an increase in a systemic inflammatory response or immunosuppression and did not have a detrimental effect on the functions of systemic organs.