Objectives: To explore operative methods for cervical spinal cord tumors. Methods: According to their different sites and histopathological types, 71 cases (intramedullary: 23 cases; and extramedullary: 48 cases) were surgically treated with different approaches and methods. Results: Tumors were totally removed in 16 of 23 (69.6%) intramedullary cases and 44 of 48 (91.7%) extramedullary cases. Eighteen of twenty-three intramedullary cases (78.3%) and 43 of 48 (89.6%) extramedullary cases improved or kept stable in neurological status postoperatively. Conclusions: Cervical spinal cord tumors should be treated with microsurgical technique. Surgical approaches were chosen according to the location, size, extension and histopathological classification of tumors.