Neuroscience
Spine and Spinal Cord Tumors
Overview
Types
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatments
Overview
Tumors can grow in and around the spinal area, including:
- Inside the spinal cord
- Within the membranes that cover and protect the spinal
cord
- In the bones of the spine
- Into the spinal region from other areas (metastatic)
Most are located in the area between the bones and the covering
of the spinal cord. A small percentage of tumors develop within
the nerves of the spinal cord itself.
As with any mass, spinal tumors can be benign or malignant.
The benign spinal tumors most often develop inside the spinal
canal but outside the spinal cord. Typically these require
only surgical removal, but in complex cases, radiation or
chemotherapy may also be used.
What is a tumor?
A tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue which develops when
the process of cell division becomes irregular. Usually, cell
division is strictly regulated: new cells are created to replace
older ones or to perform new functions. Those cells which
are replaced die to make room for the new ones. If this balance
of cell division and death is disturbed, new cells form when
they may not be needed and old cells do not die when they
should. The extra cells form a mass of tissue called a growth
or tumor.
Irregularities in the immune system, which detects and blocks
irregular growth, can also cause tumors. Additional triggers
include genetic abnormalities, radiation, sunlight, certain
viruses, and specific toxic substances including tobacco which
causes more deaths than any other environmental agent. Certain
tumors are more common in one sex; others are seen more often
in children or the elderly; and some vary according to diet.
Tumors are divided into two broad categories: benign (not
cancerous) and malignant (cancerous, with the potential to
spread to other parts of the body).
Types of malignant spinal tumors
There are two categories of malignant spinal tumors –
primary tumors and secondary tumors.
- Primary tumors – These are rare. They often progress
slowly over weeks to years, and typically grow in the spinal
cord, nerves, membranes surrounding the nerves, or bones.
- Secondary tumors – These are more common. They
typically grow quickly and often need aggressive multidisciplinary
treatment. Secondary tumors are metastatic: cancer cells
from another part of the body spread to the spine through
the bloodstream or by directly extending onto the spine.
These cells primarily spread to the spine from cancers located
in the:
· Lung
· Breast
· Digestive tract
· Prostate
· Kidney
· Reproductive tract
While some primary tumors are associated with genetic defects,
the cause of most primary spinal tumors is not known.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary depending on the location of the tumor, specific
nerves that may be affected, and the general health of the
patient. Here are the most common symptoms:
- Back pain
· Middle or low back is most common
· Pain increases when lying down
· Pain increases with strain (coughing, sneezing)
· May extend to hip, leg, feet or arms
· Progressively gets worse
· Not usually relieved by pain medication
- Sensation
· Abnormal sensations or loss of sensation (pain
and/or temperature) particularly in the legs
· Cold sensation of the legs, fingers, hands or other
areas
- Muscle weakness
· Decreased muscle strength, particularly in the
legs
· Difficulty walking
· Falls
- Incontinence
· Bladder
· Bowels
Diagnosis
In addition to a physical exam, imaging tests are most often
performed to detect spinal tumors. These include x-rays, spinal
CT, spinal MRI, myelogram, or bone scan.
A test of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may produce normal
results, or it may be abnormal but nonspecific. Cell studies
of the CSF sometimes show tumor cells.
Treatment
Neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons and radiation oncologists
can employ multiple modalities to surgically remove tumors.
In some cases, spinal column reconstruction may be necessary.
Along with surgery, other treatment methods may be employed
including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and pain management.
Learn more about the Neuroscience
Tumor Program at Saint Mary’s
[Back to Top] |
