What Are Spinal Cord and Spine Tumors?
The spinal cord is a part of the central nervous system that facilitates communication between the brain and other organs through nerves. It extends from the skull to the lower back within a bony structure called the spine. While transmitting signals from the brain to the arms and legs or other organs, it also conveys data from different organs back to the brain. Any disruption in these transmissions can lead to paralysis in the body.
Tumors occur as a result of uncontrolled growth and reproduction of certain cells in any tissue or organ of the body. Spinal cord and spine tumors are tumors that form in the bones, nerves, or other soft tissues in the area that constitutes the spine and spinal cord.
What Causes Spinal Cord and Spine Tumors?
Spinal cord and spine tumors can develop in two ways. The first is when another cancer in the body spreads to the spine and compresses the spinal cord, known as metastatic spinal tumor. The second is referred to as a primary tumor, which arises from the uncontrolled reproduction of the original cells that make up the spine and spinal cord. Causes of primary spinal and spinal cord tumors include genetic factors, exposure to various chemicals, hereditary diseases, exposure to radiation, and various viral infections.
What Are the Symptoms?
Since the signals from the brain are transmitted throughout the body by the spinal cord, any disruption in these signals can manifest throughout the body. Symptoms can vary depending on the affected area of the spinal cord.
- Pain in the neck, back, and lower back
- Pain and numbness in the legs
- Pain and numbness in the arms
- Muscle wasting and weakness in different limbs
- Weakness in limbs and difficulty walking
- Impairment in sexual functions
- Spinal curvature
- Incontinence, inability to hold bowel movements
- Paralysis
such symptoms may be observed.
Of course, not every neck, back, and lower back pain indicates a spinal cord and spine tumor. Persistent pain that does not respond to medication or rest should prompt a visit to a physician.
How Are Spinal Cord and Spine Tumors Diagnosed?
As with any disease, the most important steps in diagnosing spinal and spinal cord tumors are the medical history (anamnesis) and physical examination. If a tumor is suspected, the first test to be requested is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Depending on the results of this test or if MRI cannot be performed for various reasons, a computed tomography (CT) scan may be requested. In cases where metastasis is suspected, PET-CT and bone scintigraphy tests must be conducted to investigate the tumor source.
What Are the Treatment Methods?
The treatment of spinal cord tumors depends on the tumor’s location, type, and the patient’s personal and examination characteristics. As with any disease, early diagnosis is of great importance in this condition.
The most commonly used method for treating spinal cord and spine tumors is surgery. Surgical intervention can provide complete treatment for many tumors and can also determine whether the tumor is benign or malignant. Operations for spinal and spinal cord tumors are generally performed using microsurgical techniques and, in countries like Turkey, which have experience in the healthcare field and utilize high technology, they have a high success rate. However, depending on the region and type, the entire tumor may not always be removable.
In cases where the entire tumor cannot be removed or surgery is not possible, options such as radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy are also part of the treatment. Chemotherapy provides drug treatment for cancer patients. This method, which is applied in almost all types of cancer, has more limited use in spinal cord tumors. Radiotherapy aims to reduce or eliminate the tumor size through radiation treatment. The role of radiotherapy in spinal tumors is somewhat ahead of chemotherapy. The choice between these two methods depends on the type of tumor.
