Spine tumors are cancerous growths that develop in the spinal cord, spinal nerves or bone. They can cause permanent damage to the spine and the spinal nerves and can affect the ability to walk and move. In addition, a spinal tumor may also cause pain. A diagnosis of a spinal tumor requires that the patient visit a medical provider for evaluation. This may include an MRI scan, which will show the presence of the tumor and its position in the spinal cord.
Some types of tumors are benign. These include eosinophilic granuloma, a rare bone tumor that tends to occur in children. Other types of tumors are malignant, including glioblastoma and hemangioblastoma. The latter is a type of cancer that forms from the blood vessels in the spinal cord. It can be dangerous if it spreads to other parts of the body.
Spine tumors are not uncommon. Most of them are ependymomas, which are tumors that grow in the spinal fluid passageways. Benign tumors are often non-cancerous, but can cause permanent damage to the spine if they are not treated. Treatment for a spine tumor includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and medications.
Spine tumors can be either primary (growing inside the spine) or secondary (growing outside the spinal column). Primary tumors grow slowly and typically only last a few weeks to years. Secondary tumors can spread and cause pain and neurological deficits. Patients with spinal tumors will have regular checkups, but in some cases they will need surgery to remove a tumor.
Symptoms for spinal tumors are varied and depend on the location of the tumor and the health of the individual. Some people with spinal tumors experience numbness and loss of sensation. Others experience weakness and tingling. Numbness can occur in the arms, legs, and even the feet. Besides numbness, patients may have changes in bowel habits and muscle control.
Malignant tumors that grow in the bone are more common than those that develop in the spinal nerves. When a tumor grows in the bones, it may cause pain or pressure on the spinal cord. As a result, patients may experience pain that doesn’t improve with rest. Pain can occur at night and can affect the movement of the legs and feet.
Patients with spinal tumors will likely need rehabilitation. This is an outpatient process that can be done in a facility or in a home setting. Rehabilitation can reduce the symptoms associated with a spinal tumor, but it will not cure the tumor.
Surgical treatment for a spinal tumor can help relieve pain and improve the quality of life. For some patients, percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, a procedure that uses heat energy to disrupt slow-growing tumors, may be used. In some cases, corticosteroids are prescribed to ease inflammation around the spinal cord.
Spinal tumors are usually caused by defective genes. If a person has a family history of cancer, the risk of developing a spine tumor is higher. Smoking and advanced age are other factors that increase the likelihood of spinal tumors.
