Spinal Cord Tumors
A spinal tumor is an abnormal mass of tissues within or surrounding the spinal cord or the spinal column. These tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Primary tumors are those that arise in the spine or spinal cord. Metastatic or secondary tumors arise when cancer spreads from another site in the body to the spine. A spinal cord tumor is called an intradural tumor. It begins within the spinal cord or the covering of the spinal cord. Vertebral tumor is the tumor that affects the vertebrae.
What are the symptoms of Spinal Cord Tumors?
Symptoms for Spinal Cord Tumors may vary depending on the type, location and rate of growth.
Common symptoms include
Pain at the tumor site
Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
Changes in bowel or bladder habits
Reduced sensitivity to pain, heat and cold
Difficulty walking
Muscle weakness
The cause of spinal cord tumors is unknown.
- Exposure to cancer causing agents
- Spinal cord lymphomas are caused by compromised immune systems
- Genetic component
- Neurofibromatosis 2
- Von Hippel-Lindau disease
The cause of spinal cord tumors is unknown.
- By the region of the spine in which they occur
- Neurofibromatosis 2
- Von Hippel-Lindau disease
- By their location within the spinal column
- Intradural-extramedullary
- Intramedullary
- Extradural
- Minimally Invasive Tumor Excision
- Corpectomy and Tumor Reconstruction
- Percutaneous Biopsy
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery
- Minimally Invasive Body Tumor Excision
- Paediatric Spinal Tumor Excision
