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Spinal tumors can be primary or secondary and can cause back pain, sensation changes, and muscle weakness. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and physical therapy. Regular checkups are recommended for those with genetic conditions linked to spinal tumors.
A spinal tumor is a tumor that grows in or around the spine. Primary spinal tumors originate in the spine, while secondary tumors are malignancies that have migrated from other parts of the body to the spine. The prognosis for a patient with a spinal tumor varies depending on where the tumor is located, how big it is, what type of tumor it is, and how early it was identified. As a general rule, early diagnosis greatly improves the prognosis for the patient.
Nerve cell tumors such as gliomas can occur within the spinal cord itself, in intramedullary spinal tumors. Spinal tumors can also be myelomas, leukemias, or lymphomas, which involve the blood and, more rarely, osteosarcomas, which develop in the bones of the spine. Intradural tumors occur in the dura, the hard lining that surrounds the spinal cord, while extradural tumors are outside the dura, which surround the spinal cord.
When a spinal tumor grows, it puts pressure on the spinal cord. For patients, this means that one of the first symptoms of a spinal tumor is back pain around the region of the tumor. Pressure on the nerves can also lead to sensation changes, urinary or fecal incontinence, muscle weakness, and sharp, shooting pains. These symptoms usually lead patients to seek medical attention. If your doctor suspects a spinal tumor, medical imaging studies can be used to look for the tumor, and once the tumor is identified, further studies can be done to learn more and develop a treatment plan.
Some spinal tumors are benign and doctors can wait and see the approach with these tumors. Malignant tumors must be treated aggressively, however, as spinal tumors often grow rapidly. Surgery to remove the tumor is an option, and the patient may also be given steroids for inflammation and chemotherapy to shrink the tumor. Physical therapy may also be required to help the patient deal with the damage caused by the tumor.
Some spinal tumors are linked to genetic conditions. People diagnosed with these conditions may be encouraged to get regular checkups to monitor their spinal cords for any signs of tumor development. Others appear for no known reason. When diagnosed with spinal cancer, patients should ask their doctors about available treatment options and their risks. Every cancer is different and treatment plans can be tailored accordingly. For example, some tumors are considered inoperable due to their location, while others may respond to specialized medications without the need for surgery.
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