[Primary glioblastoma multiforme located intramedullary in the spinal cord is a very rare entity. The authors report eight cases and discuss the clinical features, the possibility of diagnosis, combinated treatment and pathomorphological signs focusing on the relevant literature and their experience.]

[The electrostimulation techniques may be used as a supplement or an alternative to standard therapy. Electrical therapy for chronic lower tract dysfunction comprises of noninvasive pudendal nerve neuromodulation and invasive sacral nerve stimulation. Short-term functional electrical stimulation seems favourable in selected patients with detrusor hyperreflexia. Sacral nerve stimulation may be a successful treatment option for patients with refractory detrusor overactivity and some forms of urinary retention.]

[Metastatic spine tumors are representing a growing number of oncological patients. In this paper the authors would like to focus on a rare type of metastatic spine tumors, the unusually located ones. Since the advent of MRI and with the progress in general oncology this formerly rare tumors became more frequently recognized. Consequently these tumors are causing a new challenge for the oncologists, neurologists and neurosurgeons as well. The aim of the authors with this paper was to raise, especially the neurologists' attention to this emerging problem.]

[Case report - Authors report a case of thyroid gland carcinoma. The tumor had metastases into the CV-VI-VII vertebras. Through an anterior approach, they removed the malignant tumor together with the bodies of the affected cervical vertebras and a two stage combined (anterior and posterior) cervical instrumentation was performed. The anterior fusion was carried out with iliac crest bone grafting and plate fixation. After four years the patient is alive and well, without symptoms of tumor recurrence or neurologic deficiency. The ventral fusion is stable. Conclusions - Authors present a case of a successful operation of thyroid gland malignant tumor having metastatases in the CV-VI-VII vertebras. Tumor resection, fusion and instrumentation is suggested to be carried out in one stage. The anterior and posterior instrumentation is essential. Radical removal of the tumor is mandatory even with complex instrumentation and oncotherapy procedures.]

[With the aim to compare results to those found in the literature, authors present a retrospective overview of the spinal stabilisations carried out in the Neurosurgical Department at the St. John’s Hospital, Budapest, Hungary between 1989 and 2002. This 37 bed department provides neurosurgical services to the Buda region with its one million inhabitants. Out of 156 000 injuries in total in the past 13 years, the department has dealt with 9360 neurotraumatologic cases, 560 of them suffering from spinal injuries. In parallel, non-traumatic cases were also treated for tumour, infections, degenerative diseases and for the instability of the spine. The 224 stabilised cases were classified into three groups: cervical, thoracic, lumbar. The authors enumerate the type of operation in each level and they present the number of cases belonging to each type. Septic complications occured in 2.5% of cases. Screw breaking or slackening of the implanted devices was observed in 2% of the cases. The types of spinal operations applied provide satisfactory method for controlling the problems caused by the instability the spinal trauma, degenerative and tumourous cases. These results do not diverge from those found in the literature.]