In this article, we explore tumours that originate in the spinal region, with insights from that session.
What Are Spinal Tumours?
Spinal tumours generally originate and develop in or around the spinal cord. These are called primary spinal tumours. Secondary spinal tumours originate elsewhere in the body and metastasize to the spine.
Benign Spinal Tumours
Benign tumours are unlikely to spread but can still cause problems based on their location and size, potentially affecting nerves and blood vessels. Fortunately, most benign spinal tumours can be treated successfully.
Malignant Spinal Tumours
Malignant tumours are likely to spread to other parts of the body, making them difficult to treat and potentially life-threatening.
Symptoms Arising From Spinal Tumours
Like many serious cancers, spinal tumours often do not show symptoms early. If the following persist despite treatment, screening should be considered:
- Back pain that worsens despite treatment
- Constant fatigue
- Recurring pain with unexplained weight loss
- Numbness or weakness extending to the legs
- Loss of bowel movement coordination
- Loss of bladder control
Types Of Spinal Tumors
There are three main types:
- Intradural Extramedullary Tumors: Grow inside the spinal canal but outside the spinal cord and nerves. Examples: Meningioma, Schwannoma.
- Intramedullary Tumours: Grow inside the spinal cord and are more dangerous due to nerve proximity. Examples: Astrocytoma, Ependymoma, Hemangioblastoma.
- Epidural Tumours: Grow between the vertebrae and the dural sac surrounding the spinal cord.
Diagnosis For Malignant Spinal Tumours
A tumour biopsy is the most effective diagnostic method. A small tissue sample is extracted via needle or surgery and examined under a microscope to confirm the presence of cancer cells.
Treatment For Spinal Tumours
The standard treatment is surgical removal followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. A surgical oncologist removes as much of the tumour as possible without causing neurological damage—a challenging task due to the spine’s connection to the central nervous system.
Minimally invasive techniques like METRx Tumour Removal are gaining popularity. The goals of surgery are to relieve pain, preserve neurological function, and stabilize the spine.
Post-surgery, patients avoid heavy lifting and are often fitted with a back brace. After 2–3 weeks, they typically undergo 15–20 minutes of daily radiotherapy for up to six weeks to eliminate residual cancer cells.
Once scans confirm remission, patients may undergo pain management or chiropractic therapy to return to normal life.