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A spinal cord tumor is an abnormal growth of cells around the spinal cord usually in the lining of the spinal cord called the dura. The nature of these tumors may be primary or secondary. Primary tumors (benign) are produced within the spinal cord however secondary tumors (malignant) have spread from cancer in any other part of the body. These tumors may or may not be cancerous. It depends upon the type of tumor, its cause, and the patient’s health status.

The best neurosurgeon in India Dr. Kalyan Bommakanti has explained in this article the rate at which these tumors spread. It depends upon their type as primary tumors that are non-cancerous grow slowly and secondary tumors that are cancerous spread rapidly. Secondary tumors are spread from other parts of the body when the cancer cells enter the bloodstream or the lymphatic system.  These systems while exchanging the fluids to the spine or the spinal cord, causes the secondary tumor to occur in the affected site. The damaged lymphatic system also affects the body’s ability to fight infections.

The pain and discomfort caused by metastatic tumors are usually constant and are not relieved by rest and may actually aggravate at night. Some other symptoms may also be seen such as nausea, vomiting, or weight loss. Spinal cord tumors may occur in any area in the spine such as the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, or coccygeal regions. It also causes symptoms like numbness, weakness, urinary incontinence, sensory or motor loss, and muscle weakness. It may also cause semi or complete paralysis or even death in severe cases.

These tumors may result in paralysis and may be life-threatening in some cases. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are necessary in order to figure it out in time and cure it completely.

The spine is the central support structure of the body. It is a long bony structure extending from the brainstem to the sacrum. It encloses a thick band of nerves transmitting motor and sensory signals from the brain to the body and vice versa. Any abnormal tissue growth or tumor in this band is called the spinal cord tumor. They may have originated inside the spinal cord (primary) or may have metastasized from any cancer of any other body part (secondary). These tumors may affect the functioning of the body in different ways depending on their type, location, and size. They may have mild effects and may also cause serious disabilities.

These tumors can be treated by various surgical and non-surgical treatment options explained briefly by the best neurosurgeon Dr. Kalyan Bommakanti in this article:

Non-surgical treatment:

Tumors that are non-progressing, asymptomatic, or have mild symptoms can be monitored regularly through MRIs. The treatment options depend upon the requirement and the goal. There are various nonsurgical treatment options available in order to treat these tumors including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and observation. Some tumors respond well to chemotherapy while others respond to radiation therapy.        

Radiation therapy is mostly used after the surgery in order to remove any remnants, however, it can also be used in cases where surgery is very risky.

Chemotherapy is used to destroy the cancer cells and restrict them from further abnormal growth. It may be used alone or in combination with radiation therapy. However, chemotherapy accompanies a variety of side effects such as nausea, hair loss, vomiting, and fatigability.

Along with these treatments, a number of oral medications are also prescribed in order to overcome the side effects and inflammation caused by these. These drugs are mostly corticosteroids or NSAIDs for pain relief.

Surgical treatment:                 

Surgical options are opted when the tumor can’t be treated by chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The indications for surgery depend on the type of the tumor and the expected damage it can cause mainly due to spinal cord compression. The main goal is to completely remove the tumor, but there is a risk that may compromise some other nerves. Advanced technologies have made it possible to cure tumors that were once considered incurable that too through minimal invasion. If any of the tumors is still left after the surgery, the treatment is continued with chemotherapy or radiation, or both. It takes some time to recover after the surgery, usually, physical therapy helps the patient to preserve the benefits of the surgery and restore his functional and neurological functions.

A spinal cord tumor is an abnormal mass of tissues grown inside the spinal column, it may be present in the lining of the spinal cord (dura) or within the spinal cord. These tumors may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) in nature. They are classified into two main groups i.e. primary and secondary. Primary spinal cord tumors are those which originate within it however secondary tumors are those that are metastasized from cancer from another body part i.e. lungs, breast etc.

The initial diagnosis is made by a thorough medical examination, including general physical and neurological exams and laboratory tests mainly radiological tests. These tests include X-ray, CT scan, biopsy, bone scan, MRI etc. Multiple tests are done in order to attain accurate results and to identify the actual type and location of the tumor.

• MAGNETIC RESONANT IMAGING (MRI):

MRI is usually preferred for accurate results, as it shows a clear image of the spinal cord and the surrounding tissues. It uses a contrast agent to highlight the affected area that is injected through a vein into your body. It provides a three-dimensional image that includes all the degenerations, tumors, or any other abnormalities.

• X-ray:

X-ray is done to see the bony structure of the spine and its outline. However, they are not considered very reliable.

• CT SCAN:

Ct scans are done in order to evaluate the size and shape of the spinal canal, it is also useful to visualize the bony structures and the contents inside the spinal canal.

• Bone Scan:

Technetium-99 is used in the bone scan. It is used to identify bony tumors and infections.

These tumors can be treated by surgical or non-surgical methods. This decision depends on the age and overall health of the patient as well as the outcome goals.

Spinal cord tumors originate within the spinal cord or in the lining (dura) of it enclosed in the bony structure of the vertebral column. The purpose of the spinal cord is to conduct sensory and motor sensations from the brain to the body and vice versa. Hence, any impairment in the spinal cord directly affects the sensations all over the body.

Any abnormal growth in the spinal cord compresses the nerve fiber band in the areas of its pathway i.e. cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral will result in damage. This damage depends on the location and size of the tumor. The tumor’s location determines which part of the body is most likely to be affected. While its size may indicate the extent of the damage and the level of the injury. Any kind of abnormal growth may lead to pain and discomfort.

Spinal cord tumors can result in various levels of impairment including mild to severe damage. The impairments may include pain, numbness, discomfort, and neurological disorders and may even lead to paralysis. The overall understanding of the symptoms and the level of injury depends on the time of diagnosis (the early the diagnosis the better the prognosis), the level of injury, and the nature of cancer. It also depends on whether the compression of the spinal cord is present or not, if present then what is the extent. It is also dependent on the age and overall health of the patient and whether the tumor is benign or malignant.

Even if the tumor is treated, the healing depends on the patient’s health and wellness. The surgical treatment also has some side effects such as infection at the site of surgery, systematic disorders, and infections. There may also be chances of deep vein thrombosis.