It's not clear why most spinal tumors develop. Experts suspect that defective genes play a role. But it's usually not known whether such genetic defects are inherited or simply develop over time. They might be caused by something in the environment, such as exposure to certain chemicals.
The cause of most primary spinal tumors is unknown. Some of them may be attributed to exposure to cancer-causing agents. Spinal cord lymphomas, which are cancers that affect lymphocytes (a type of immune cell), are more common in people with compromised immune systems.
Actual survival 3–12 months (n=4)—median difference, 7 months.
Although in the majority of cases these spinal tumors are benign, a small percentage of them may become malignant. Benign spinal tumors can cause problems when they grow large enough to press against the tissues of the spinal cord or other structures.
Spinal tumors or growths of any kind can lead to pain, neurological problems and sometimes paralysis. A spinal tumor can be life-threatening and cause permanent disability. Treatment for a spinal tumor may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or other medications.
Some people live active and fulfilling lives with spinal tumors that don't grow or cause symptoms. In some cases, people with metastatic spinal tumors need to continue treatments, including chemotherapy or radiation, to keep the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
When the tumor can't be removed completely, surgery may be followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy or both. Recovery from spinal surgery may take weeks or longer, depending on the procedure. You may experience a temporary loss of sensation or other complications, including bleeding and damage to nerve tissue.
Primary tumors often progress slowly over weeks to years. Tumors in the spinal cord usually cause symptoms, sometimes over large portions of the body. Tumors outside the spinal cord may grow for a long time before causing nerve damage.
A vertebral tumor can affect neurological function by pushing on the spinal cord or nerve roots nearby. As these tumors grow within the bone, they may also cause pain, vertebral fractures or spinal instability. Whether cancerous or not, a vertebral tumor can be life-threatening and cause permanent disability.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
This is the most reliable method for diagnosing spine tumors. MRI can identify spinal cord compression, even if you don't have pain or other neurologic symptoms, and can often distinguish between malignant and benign lesions.
Back pain is the most common symptom of both benign (noncancerous) and malignant (cancerous) spinal tumors. Pain from spinal tumors in your middle or lower back is more common, as tumors are more likely to develop in those regions of your spine.
Overall, the chance that a person will develop a malignant tumor of the brain or spinal cord in their lifetime is less than 1%.
Back pain that often radiates to other areas and worsens at night. Pain at the tumor site. Radiating numbness, tingling, or weakness. Less sensitivity to heat, cold, and pain.
Spinal cord tumors and vertebral tumors can be cancerous or noncancerous, but either form can result in disability and even death.
The surgery itself can take from one hour to 10, depending on the complexity of the tumor and any surrounding tissues it may have grown into. Your neurosurgeon can give you a more accurate estimate of how long your surgery is expected to last.
Pain from a Spinal Tumor
Tumors in the spinal column may cause back pain by damaging healthy tissues, such as the vertebrae (bones), and/or by compressing (pinching) the nerves. Spinal tumor pain may feel like one or more of the following: Upper or middle back pain.
Spinal tumors can affect the brain in several ways. Growth in the spinal canal can block the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid or CSF. This can raise the pressure inside the skull (intracranial pressure), which can harm the brain.
An MRI scan is the most reliable method of diagnosing spinal cord tumors, although additional tests are needed to confirm the type of tumor. MRI is also useful in identifying spinal cord compression, which occurs when a tumor presses against the nerves within the spinal cord.
An MRI with contrast dye is the best way to see brain and spinal cord tumors. Using MRI, doctors can sometimes tell if a tumor is or isn't cancer. MRI can also be used to look for signs that cancer may have metastasized (spread) from where it started to another part of the body.
Certain blood tests help your doctor determine if pain and other symptoms are caused by an infection or possibly a spinal tumor. Certain blood tests help your doctor determine if pain and other symptoms are caused by an infection or possibly a spinal tumor.
Blood tests are not used to diagnose brain or spinal cord tumours. However, they are routinely done to provide a baseline before any planned treatment. They can provide helpful information about your general health, how other organs are functioning, other medical conditions and the possible risks of treatment.
You can feel pain in your cervical (neck), thoracic (middle of the back), or lumbar spine (lower back). Tumors can also cause pain, numbness, or weakness in your arms or legs by pressing on the nerves of your spinal cord.
If a suspicious area is seen on an imaging study, a biopsy may be performed. This involves harvesting a small amount of tissue from the tumor or lesion. This tissue is then sent to a pathologist who will examine it and perform tests to determine whether the cellular structure is that of a benign or malignant tumor.
It can assess the disks to see if they're bulging, ruptured, or pressing on the spinal cord or nerves. The MRI also can help doctors: Evaluate symptoms such as lower back pain, leg pain, numbness, tingling or weakness. Look into problems with bladder and bowel control.