Spine and spinal cord tumors are abnormal cell growths in the spinal bones or the tissues surrounding the spinal cord. They can occur within the spinal cord, or in and around the spine. Most spinal tumors result from cancer metastasis (spreading to surrounding tissues). Spinal cord tumor symptoms vary depending on the location and size of the tumor, but often include symptoms such as back pain, neck pain, and radicular pain radiating to the arms and legs, muscle weakness, sensory loss, coordination disorders, and changes in urinary or bowel control. Treatment for spinal tumors may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or medication.

What are Spine and Spinal Cord Tumors?

Spinal tumors are abnormal tissue growths that develop within or near the spine, affecting the spinal cord, nerve roots, or spinal bones. They can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Some tumors can cause pain, neurological disorders, or spinal instabilities in patients. The spinal cord is a cylindrical structure that runs from the brainstem (lower part of the brain) through the middle of the spine to the lower back. It contains nerve bundles and cells that carry messages from the brain to the rest of the body and from the body to the brain.

If the tumor continues to grow, it can damage different tissues in the spine. Tumors that originate in the spine or spinal cord are called primary spinal tumors. The spread of cancerous cells from another part of the body to the spine is called metastatic spinal tumors.

What are the Types of Spine and Spinal Cord Tumors?

Spine and spinal cord tumors can be of various types and originate from different cell types. These types of tumors can form inside (intraosseous) or outside (extraosseous) the spinal bones and can affect the tissues surrounding the spinal cord. Spinal tumors are classified according to grade, origin, and location. Spine types may include:

Aneurysmal bone cyst: Usually a benign tumor or cyst found inside bones, especially at the ends of long bones. These cysts are fluid-filled and appear to expand the bone. They can occur in any bone, but when seen in the spine, they are most common in the posterior part of the spine.
Giant cell tumor of bone (GCT): Giant cell tumors are benign but locally aggressive tumors and can occur in any bone. In the spine, this aggressive tumor is most often found in the sacrum, a bone at the base of the spine. Treatment often requires surgical intervention, and the treatment method may change depending on the size, location of the cyst, and bone damage.
Chordoma: Chordomas are rare malignant tumors that occur in the spine and skull base. They usually form at the base of the spine, in the sacrum and tailbone.
Spinal hemangioma: These types of tumors consist of tissues of the blood vessels inside the spine. Spinal hemangioma is the most common primary spinal tumor and is usually benign.
Osteoid osteoma: A benign bone tumor that can develop in any bone of the body. Osteoid osteomas characteristically cause night pain, and this pain is relieved with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Ewing Sarcoma: Ewing sarcoma is a cancerous tumor that grows in the bones or in the soft tissue around the bones in the legs, pelvis, ribs, arms, or spine.
Meningioma: This is a tumor that forms in the membrane covering the spinal cord and brain. Meningiomas are usually benign but can grow large enough to be life-threatening. Or they can lead to serious problems by putting pressure on the spinal cord.
Osteosarcoma: Osteosarcoma is the most common sarcoma of the bone. It is a type of bone cancer that can originate from the spine but is more common in the femur and tibia. It usually presents as a painful lesion and requires a comprehensive evaluation.

Spinal Cord Tumors

Spinal cord tumors are tumors originating from the spinal cord or nerve structures. They occur within the spinal canal and can be inside or outside the spinal cord. Spinal cord tumors rarely metastasize outside the spinal canal but can spread within the spinal canal. Some of the spinal cord tumors include:

Astrocytomas: Astrocytomas are tumors originating from the glial cells (support cells) of the spinal cord. They appear as slow-growing or more aggressively progressing astrocytomas.
Ependymoma: A tumor that develops from cells in the continuation of the cerebrospinal fluid pathways. Ependymomas originate from the ependymal cells of the spinal cord.
Schwannomas: A tumor of the cells that wrap the nerve fibers of the spinal cord, the peripheral nervous system, and the cranial nerves. Schwannomas are usually benign and rarely turn into cancer.
Meningiomas: Meningiomas are tumors of the protective layer called the dura around the spinal cord. These are usually benign, slow-growing lesions but can become more aggressive.
Neurofibromas: Neurofibromas are typically slow-growing, benign tumors originating from nerve roots and nerve cells. In rare cases, they can be malignant.

How Do Spine and Spinal Cord Tumors Form?

Spine and spinal cord tumors are abnormal cell growths. It is still not clear today why most spinal tumors develop. Whether these types of genetic disorders are hereditary or develop over time is still unknown. Multiple factors play a role in the formation of these tumors, but the exact causes are often unclear. Environmental factors such as genetic predisposition, exposure to radiation, exposure to carcinogenic substances, and infection by some viruses may play a role in the development of spine and spinal cord tumors.

What are the Stages of Spine and Spinal Cord Tumors?

Cancerous cells do not die as healthy cells do in their natural life cycles. Disruptions in cell DNA tell cells to go out of control and continue living. This situation causes tumor formation by creating too many extra cells. Although the stages of spine and spinal cord tumors vary according to the type of tumor, they generally include:

Stage 0 (Precancerous Changes): This stage indicates the presence of pre-cancerous changes. These changes may indicate cancer formation, but cancer cells have not been detected yet.
Stage I: In this stage, cancer is located in a limited area of the spine or spinal cord; no spread to other tissues and organs is seen.
Stage II: In Stage II, cancer covers a larger area. The tumor may have spread to surrounding tissues, but it has not yet spread to distant organs or lymph nodes.
Stage III: Stage III is a condition where cancer has spread more extensively. In this stage, cancer has spread to a wider area and may have jumped to nearby organs or tissues such as the lungs or liver. However, cancer has not yet spread to distant organs.
Stage IV: This stage is the most advanced stage of cancer, and cancer may have jumped to nearby organs or tissues.

How is Spine and Spinal Cord Tumor Diagnosed?

Spinal tumors can sometimes be overlooked because they are not common and their symptoms resemble more common ailments. Therefore, physical and neurological examinations are important. If doctors suspect a spinal tumor, they may request some tests in addition to the physical examination. Some of these tests are:

Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Spine and spinal cord tumor MR images are generally preferred to diagnose tumors in the spine, spinal cord, and surrounding tissues. Sometimes it is combined with a contrast dye injected to make it easier to see abnormal changes in the spinal canal or spinal cord.
Computed tomography (CT): In this test, a narrow beam of radiation is used to produce detailed images of the spine. Sometimes it is combined with a contrast dye injected to make it easier to see abnormal changes in the spinal canal or spinal cord. CT scanning is used to help diagnose spinal tumors and to see the effects caused by the tumor.
Bone scintigraphy: During a bone scan, the doctor injects a very small amount of radioactive material into a vein and then uses the imaging method to examine the bones. Monitoring the movement of the radioactive material helps to detect abnormal areas in the spine.
Blood tests: In some cases, tumor markers or blood tests can be used. For example, blood tests can be performed to determine inflammation or other signs caused by tumors.
Neurological evaluation: Spine and spinal cord tumors can cause neurological symptoms due to the compression or damage of nerves. Therefore, neurological examination and evaluation also play an important role in the diagnosis process.

How is Spine and Spinal Cord Tumor Treatment Performed?

The goal of spinal tumor treatment is the complete removal of the tumor, but in some cases, treatment may involve more complex interventions due to the risk of permanent damage to the spinal cord and surrounding nerves. In determining the treatment plan, the type of tumor, whether it originates from structures in the spine and spinal canal, and whether it has spread to the spine from elsewhere in the body are also taken into account. To confirm the diagnosis in spinal tumors, a biopsy may be required for some patients. Spine and spinal cord treatment may include the following elements:

Surgical Intervention: Spine and spinal cord tumor surgery is frequently used by doctors as a treatment method. Surgery can be performed for the purpose of removing or partially removing the tumor.
Radiotherapy: In the treatment of spine and spinal cord tumors, radiotherapy can be applied to prevent the recurrence of the tumor after surgery or to reduce the tumor size.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy can mostly be used together with surgical intervention or radiotherapy. The goal of treatment is to kill cancer cells or slow their growth.
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation: As part of the treatment process, it can be applied under medical supervision to increase the patient’s muscle strength, flexibility, and mobility, reduce pain, and increase functional independence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Spinal Tumor Be Felt by Hand?

Small spinal tumors usually cannot be felt by hand because they are located within the bone or in the tissues surrounding the spinal cord. However, a significant swelling or mass may be felt as a result of the growth of the tumor or pressure on adjacent tissues.

What Happens If a Spinal Cord Tumor Is Not Removed?

If a spinal cord tumor is not removed, the patient’s symptoms may progress and quality of life may be negatively affected. Furthermore, untreated spinal cord tumors can progress to cause serious complications and be life-threatening.

Which Doctor Looks at Spinal Cord Tumors?

Spinal cord tumors are usually handled by a brain and spinal surgery specialist (neurosurgery). These specialists specialize in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of spinal cord tumors.

How Do You Tell If a Tumor Is Benign?

To determine if a tumor is benign, a biopsy is usually performed, and the tissue sample taken is examined in detail in the pathology department.

As Hisar Hospital, we offer our patients the most up-to-date and effective treatment options with a multidisciplinary approach in the diagnosis and treatment of spine and spinal cord tumors. With our expert staff in the fields of neurosurgery and oncological surgery, we create individualized treatment plans.

If you are experiencing complaints such as uncertain back pain, muscle weakness, or restricted movement, you can get support from our specialist physicians for early diagnosis and correct treatment.

For detailed information, you can visit our Neurosurgery department or learn more about treatment methods from our contact page.