Surgical treatment of vertebro-epidural neoplasms of the cervical tract via the anterior approach.

Fifteen cases of vertebral-epidural neoplasms of the cervical tract, treated surgically by the technique of longitudinal median somatotomy with inlay arthrodesis via the anterior approach are presented. Compression of the spinal anterior artery is eliminated by the wide anterior longitudinal exposition, which also creates a support for a possible second operation, either laminectomy or foraminotomy.