What Is Spinal Tumor?

The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system that allows communication between the brain and other organs with the help of nerves. It extends from the skull to the waist, inside the bone structure called the spine. It extends from the skull to the waist, inside the bone structure called the spine.

While it transmits the stimuli from the brain to the arms and legs or other organs, it also transmits the data from different organs to the brain in the same way. Disruption of these messages for various reasons can cause paralysis in the body.

Tumors are formed as a result of the uncontrolled reproduction and growth of some cells in any tissue or organ of the body. Spinal cord and spinal tumors are tumors that occur in the bones, nerves, or other soft tissues that make up the spine and spinal cord.

What Are the Symptoms of Spinal Tumors?

Spinal cord tumors can cause different signs and symptoms, especially as the tumors grow.

Tumors can affect the spine or nerve roots, blood vessels, or bones of the spine. Signs and symptoms may include the following:

Pain at the tumor site due to tumor growth
Back pain that usually spreads to other parts of your body
Less sensitivity to pain, heat and cold
Loss of bowel or bladder function
Difficulty walking, sometimes causing falls
Back pain that worsens at night
Loss of sensation or muscle weakness, especially in the arms and legs
Moderate or severe muscle weakness in different parts of the body
Back pain is a common early symptom of spinal cord tumors.

The pain can also spread beyond the back to your hips, legs, feet, or arms, and can even worsen over time with treatment.

What Are The Treatment Methods of Spinal Tumors?

Spinal cord tumors progress at different speeds depending on the type of tumor. The treatment is quite special. One of the most important aspects is the pathological diagnosis of the tumor. In some cases, the diagnosis is very simple and the treatment is well known. In other cases, extensive diagnostic studies may be required to diagnose the type of tumor.

There are three options for treatment: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The choice of treatment depends on the sensitivity of the tumor to chemo and radiotherapy and whether it can be surgically removed.

Primary spinal cord tumors are usually treated with surgery. It allows the elimination of the mass effect, obtaining tissue for pathological diagnosis and, if necessary, stabilization of the spine.
Completely removed benign tumors do not require additional treatment.

Malignant tumor requires additional post-operative chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Treatment of metastatic tumors depends on the type and stage of the tumor.

Once upon a time, these patients were considered inoperable. However, with modern methods of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, most of these patients ensure their survival.

The purpose of the operation is to reduce the pressure on the spinal cord and nerves and to ensure the stability of the spine.