Anterior Corpectomy and Vertebroplasty With Carbon-Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Cage for Invasive Spinal Meningioma

Intradural extramedullary tumors constitute a significant burden of primary spinal neoplasms. These include spinal meningiomas, the minority of which are located ventral to the cord. This report presents anterior corpectomy with Simpson Grade II resection of a ventrally located spinal meningioma at C3, followed by vertebral body replacement with a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage. The composition of this implant is of particular importance to this case, as it is necessary to monitor for the common event of meningioma recurrence. A 73-year-old female presented with left-sided lower extremity numbness and upper motor neuron findings. Imaging of the cervical spine revealed a large intradural extramedullary mass consistent with a meningioma, causing displacement of the cord to the left. An anterior cervical discectomy and fusion approach was used for C3 corpectomy and tumor resection, and a carbon-PEEK implant was used for spinal stabilization. The procedure continued in an uncomplicated fashion, and the transient dysphagia experienced by the patient resolved swiftly with supportive care. At a two-year follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic and shows no evidence of meningioma recurrence. PEEK's resilience and radiolucency proved instrumental in ensuring the stability of the construct, as well as facilitating follow-up imaging of the cervical spine without artifacts. This case demonstrates the use of the anterior approach for corpectomy with a carbon-PEEK implant for spinal stabilization in the context of a ventrally located spinal meningioma, a strategy that ensured maximal safe resection of the lesion and permitted detailed postoperative surveillance for tumor recurrence. The success of this surgery and the patient's postoperative course highlight the critical role of a tailored surgical strategy and advanced biomaterials in optimizing outcomes for complex spinal neoplasms.