An abnormal growth of cells in or around the spinal cord is a condition called a spinal cord tumor. The spinal cord goes from the brain and extends downward. It is produced by nerve cells that carry signals between the body’s organs and structures and the brain. Furthermore, the spinal cord is surrounded by bones that protect it.
Sometimes, spinal cord tumors are called intradural tumors or spinal tumors.
In most cases, tumors that appear in the spinal cord are not cancerous (benign). However, some of them are cancerous (malignant). When the tumors are malignant, the condition is called spinal cord cancer, but when the tumor is benign, it is called a spinal cord tumor.
There are multiple types of tumors that may appear in the spinal cord. Healthcare providers divided spinal cord tumor types into the following groups. For example:
- Intramedullary spinal cord tumors – In such cases, tumors appear in the spinal cord cells. Some examples of intramedullary spinal cord tumors include glioma, astrocytoma, and ependymoma.
- Extramedullary spinal cord tumors – These tumors happen in the tissues around the spinal cord (such as the dura, nerve roots, and others). Meningioma, neurofibroma, schwannoma, and a nerve sheath tumor are some examples of extramedullary spinal cord tumors.
While spinal cord tumors may appear anywhere along the spinal cord, in most cases, they appear in the upper back. Less frequently tumors may appear in the neck or lower back. People with spinal cord tumors often experience pain in the neck or back where the tumor grows. Sometimes, loss of function in the part of the body that is controlled by the nerves involved in the tumor may occur.
Treatment for spinal cord tumors is different among people because it depends on multiple factors. These include the exact location and size of the tumor, existing health problems, your age and preferences, and others. However, doctors usually recommend surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Spinal Cord Tumor Types
These include:
- Astrocytoma
- Chordoma
- Glioma
- Meningioma
- Neurofibroma
- Schwannoma
Symptoms
The symptoms usually do not appear in the early stages of the disease. They appear when the tumor grows enough and puts pressure on nearby structures and nerves. When symptoms occur in the spine, they include pain near the spot where the tumor appears that often worsens during nighttime, may extend from the back to nearby body parts, or get worse over time.
When a tumor appears in the spinal cord, it may cause damage to nearby nerves and cause the following symptoms. For example:
- Reduced sensitivity to pain, heat, and cold
- Loss of bladder or bowel function
- Muscle weakness
- Walking problems
Generally, spinal cord tumors rarely appear in children. However, when it happens, children may experience the following symptoms. Examples include:
- Walking problems (including tripping more than usual, falls, and others)
- Loss of mobility
- Weakness of muscles that often occurs in one body part
- A new curve in the spine
- Pain that occurs in the neck or back and worsens at night
If any of the previous symptoms occur or any other symptoms that cause concerns, immediately visit your healthcare professional.
Causes
Healthcare providers cannot determine what exactly causes changes that lead to spinal cord tumors. Usually, tumors in the spinal cord occur when cells begin to grow and multiply abnormally. It is caused by DNA mutations (changes). DNA holds the instructions that tell cells when to grow, multiply, and die. However, when DNA changes occur, cells receive different instructions that make them grow and multiply without control. When abnormal cells become too numerous, they form a mass called a tumor. This tumor puts pressure on the nearby nerves, causing symptoms. If the condition is not treated and the tumor is cancerous (malignant), it may break and spread throughout the body.
Risk Factors
Certain factors could elevate your risk of developing spinal cord tumors. These include:
- Neurofibromatosis type 1 – This is a genetic disorder that causes skin pigment changes and tumors in the nerve tissue. The tumor can grow anywhere in the nervous system (such as the spinal cord, nerves, and brain).
- Neurofibromatosis type 2 – The second type of this genetic disorder usually causes multiple brain and spinal tumors.
- Von Hippel-Lindau disease – This is a rare, multisystem disease that causes tumors in the blood vessels (also called hemangioblastomas). These tumors may grow in the brain, retina, spinal cord, and other body parts (such as kidneys and adrenal glands).
Unfortunately, there is no sure way to prevent spinal cord tumors.
What Are The Possible Complications of Spinal Cord Tumor?
People with untreated spinal cord tumors may experience some complications. For example, loss of feeling or movement in the part of the body where the tumor presses on nerves, walking problems, problems with bladder and bowel function. Discuss with your healthcare professional about ways to prevent or avoid spinal cord tumor complications.
Diagnosis
Physicians usually begin spinal cord tumor diagnosis with a physical examination to check for irregularities linked with this condition. Thereafter, to confirm the condition, they may perform some tests, such as imaging tests and a biopsy. Check below some tests:
- Spinal MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans – This test uses a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to make detailed pictures of different body organs and structures. It can identify the exact location and size of spinal cord tumors.
- Spinal CT (computerized tomography) scans – This test is used to produce cross-sectional images (also known as slices) of the spine. It may give your doctor more information about your condition.
- Spinal cord tumor biopsy – During this procedure, doctors use a needle that is inserted through the skin into the spine to get a small sample of tissue from the tumor. Thereafter, this sample is tested in the laboratory to check for abnormal cells. Sometimes, surgeons may take a small sample of the tumor during surgery. It helps determine the type of tumor.
Treatment
The primary treatment for people with spinal cord tumors is surgery. However, doctors may recommend radiation therapy and chemotherapy that are given to the patients either before or after surgery.
Generally, the treatment goal is to remove the tumor from the spinal cord, lessen the symptoms, and prevent complications. The treatment plan is based on multiple factors. For example the size, type, and location of the tumor, existing health conditions, your age and preferences, and others.
Surgery
The goal of this treatment is to remove the tumor completely. However, before surgery, doctors will consider whether it may hurt your spinal cord. If surgery will not cause long-lasting damage, it can be an option for you.
In most cases, to remove the spinal cord tumors, surgeons will make a cut in the back or neck. To access the spine, physicians may remove some bones of the spine. Moreover, surgeons use a high-powered microscope and specific surgical tools to remove the tumor.
Radiation Therapy
This treatment uses powerful energy beams to destroy cancer cells. This energy comes usually from protons, X-rays, and or other sources. In most cases, during radiation therapy, you will lie on a table while machinery will move around you and deliver the radiation exactly to the tumor. Physicians usually recommend this therapy to kill cancer cells that may remain after surgery. When it is used before surgery, it may help slow down the tumor’s growth.
Chemotherapy
This treatment involves strong medicines that destroy cancer cells throughout the body. Mostly, chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously (IV), but a pill form is also available. However, this treatment does not work well for all spinal cord tumors that grow quite fast (such as malignant spinal cord tumors).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you treat a tumor on the spinal cord?
The main treatment for these tumors is surgery to remove them. However, in some cases, surgery is not an option, and doctors prescribe radiation therapy and chemotherapy drugs to destroy the tumor. Healthcare professionals may recommend both treatments at the same time.
What is the survival rate for spinal tumors?
The 5-year survival rate for people with malignant brain or spinal tumors is about 36%, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Furthermore, the 10-year survival rate is approximately 30%. For more details, discuss it with your doctor.
What are the complications of spinal tumors?
People with spinal cord tumors may experience some complications, especially without treatment. These include:
- Paralysis
- Weakness
- Bowel and urinary incontinence
- Sensory deficit
- Chronic pain
- Spinal cord compression
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Spinal instability
This document does not contain all possible complications of a spinal cord tumor. Ask your healthcare provider if you have additional questions.
