BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSpinal tumorTumor - spinal cordA spinal tumor is a growth of cells (mass) in or around the spinal cord. Causes Any type of tumor may occur in the spine, including primary and secondary tumors.Primary tumors: most of these tumors are benign and slow growing.Astrocytoma: a tumor of the supporting cells inside the spinal cord Meningioma: tumor of the tissue that covers the spinal cord Schwannoma: a tumor of the cells surrounding the nerve fibers Ependymoma: a tumor of the cells that line the cavities of the brain Lipoma: a tumor of the fat cellsSecondary tumors or metastasis: these tumors are cancer cells coming from other areas of the body.Prostate, lung, breast, thyroid, and kidney cancer tend to spread to the bones including the spine ProstateProstate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped structure that makes up part of a man's reproduc...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article LungLung cancer is cancer that starts in the lungs. The lungs are located in the chest. When you breathe, air goes through your nose, down your windpipe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BreastBreast cancer is cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast. There are two main types of breast cancer:Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (du...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ThyroidThyroid cancer is a cancer that starts in the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in the front of your lower neck.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article KidneyRenal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney cancer that starts in the lining of very small tubes (tubules) in the kidney.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Leukemia: a blood cancer that starts in the white cells in the bone marrow LeukemiaLeukemia is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of the bones, where blood cells are ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lymphoma: a cancer of the lymph tissue LymphomaHodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of lymph tissue. Lymph tissue is found in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow, and other sites.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Myeloma: a blood cancer that starts in the plasma cells of the bone marrowMyelomaMultiple myeloma is a blood cancer that starts from a type of white blood cell in the bone marrow called plasma cells. Bone marrow is the soft, spon...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The cause of primary spinal tumors is unknown. Some primary spinal tumors occur with certain inherited gene mutations.Spinal tumors can be located:Inside the spinal cord (intramedullary) In the membranes (meninges) covering the spinal cord (extramedullary - intradural) Between the meninges and bones of the spine (extradural) In the spine bones (vertebrae)As it grows, the tumor can affect the:Blood vessels Bones of the spine Meninges Nerve roots Spinal cord cellsThe tumor may press on the spinal cord or nerve roots, causing damage. With time, the damage may become permanent. Symptoms The symptoms depend on the location, type of tumor, and your general health. Secondary tumors that have spread to the spine from another site (metastatic tumors) often progress quickly. Primary tumors often progress slowly over weeks to years.Symptoms may include:Abnormal sensations or loss of sensation, especially in the legs Abnormal sensationsNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Back pain that gets worse over time, is often in the middle or lower back, is usually severe and not relieved by pain medicine, gets worse when lying down or straining (such as during a cough or sneeze), and may extend to the hips or legs Loss of bowel control, bladder leakage Loss of bowel controlBowel incontinence is the loss of bowel control, causing you to unexpectedly pass stool. This can range from sometimes leaking a small amount of sto...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bladder leakageUrinary (or bladder) incontinence occurs when you are not able to keep urine from leaking out of your urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle contractions,twitches, or spasms Muscle contractions,Muscle cramps are when a muscle gets tight (contracts) without you trying to tighten it, and it does not relax. Cramps may involve all or part of on...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article TwitchesMuscle twitches are fine movements of a small area of muscle.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle weakness (decreased muscle strength) in the legs that causes falls, makes walking difficult, and may get worse (progressive) and lead to paralysisMuscle weaknessWeakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests A nervous system (neurological) exam may help pinpoint the location of the tumor. Your health care provider may also find the following during an exam:Abnormal reflexes Increased muscle tone Loss of pain and temperature sensation Muscle weakness Tenderness in the spine These tests may confirm spinal tumor:Spine CT Spine CTA lumbosacral spine CT is a computed tomography scan of the lower spine and surrounding tissues.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spine MRI MRIA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spine x-ray Spine x-rayA thoracic spine x-ray is an x-ray of the 12 chest (thoracic) bones (vertebrae) of the spine. The vertebrae are separated by flat pads of cartilage ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examinationCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is a group of lab tests that measure chemicals in the cerebrospinal fluid. CSF is a clear fluid that surrounds an...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Myelogram (x-ray of the spinal canal that contains the spinal cord) PET scanPET scanA positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in the body...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The goal of treatment is to reduce or prevent nerve damage caused by pressure on (compression of) the spinal cord and ensure that you can walk.Treatment should be given quickly. The more quickly symptoms develop, the sooner treatment is needed to prevent permanent injury. Any new or unexplained back pain in a person with cancer should be promptly and thoroughly investigated.Treatments may include:Corticosteroids (dexamethasone) may be given to reduce inflammation and swelling around the spinal cord. Emergency surgery may be needed to relieve compression on the spinal cord. Some tumors can be completely removed. In other cases, part of the tumor may be removed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord. Radiation therapy may be used with, or instead of, surgery. Radiation therapyRadiation therapy uses high-powered radiation (such as x-rays or gamma rays), particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chemotherapy has not been proven effective against most primary spinal tumors, but it may be recommended in some cases, depending on the type of tumor. ChemotherapyThe term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to:Cure the cancerShrink the cancerPrevent the cancer from ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Physical therapy may be needed to improve muscle strength and the ability to function independently. Outlook (Prognosis) The outcome varies depending on the tumor. Early diagnosis and treatment usually leads to a better outcome.Nerve damage often continues, even after surgery. Although some amount of permanent disability is likely, early treatment may delay major disability and death. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have a history of cancer and develop severe back pain that is sudden or gets worse.Go to the emergency room or call 911 or the local emergency number if you develop new symptoms, or your symptoms get worse during the treatment of a spinal tumor.Open ReferencesReferencesFatima N, Massaad E, Shankar GM, Shin JH. Spinal tumors. In: Steinmetz MP, Berven SH, Benzel EC, eds. Benzel's Spine Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 70.Jakubovic R, Ruschin M, Tseng CL, Pejovic-Milic A, Sahgal A, Yang VXD. Surgical resection with radiation treatment planning of spinal tumors. Neurosurgery. 2019;84(6):1242-1250. PMID: 29796646 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29796646/.Mellinghoff IK, DeAngelis LM. Tumors of the central nervous system. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 175.Niglas M, Tseng C-L, Dea N, Chang E, Lo S, Sahgal A. Spinal cord compression. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 54.Soliman H, Fridely J, Oyelese A, Gokaslan ZL. Management of spinal metastatic tumors. In: Ellenbogen RG, Sekhar LN, Kitchen ND, da Silva Hb, eds. Principles of Neurological Surgery. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 32.AllVideoImagesTogVertebrae - illustration The vertebral column is made up of 26 bones that provide axial support to the trunk. The vertebral column provides protection to the spinal cord, which runs through its central cavity. Between each vertebra is an intervertebral disk, which acts as a shock absorber.VertebraeillustrationSpinal tumor - illustration This photograph shows the presence of tumor within the vertebrae. The tumor is dense white against the red interior of the bone.Spinal tumorillustrationVertebrae - illustration The vertebral column is made up of 26 bones that provide axial support to the trunk. The vertebral column provides protection to the spinal cord, which runs through its central cavity. Between each vertebra is an intervertebral disk, which acts as a shock absorber.VertebraeillustrationSpinal tumor - illustration This photograph shows the presence of tumor within the vertebrae. The tumor is dense white against the red interior of the bone.Spinal tumorillustration Tests for Spinal tumor Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collectionRelated Information Metastasis(Special Topic)Hodgkin lymphoma(Condition)Brain tumor - children(Condition)Spinal cord trauma(Condition)Hodgkin disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Brain tumors - primary - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 7/29/2024 Reviewed By: Warren Brenner, MD, Oncologist, Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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Spinal tumorTumor - spinal cordA spinal tumor is a growth of cells (mass) in or around the spinal cord. Causes Any type of tumor may occur in the spine, including primary and secondary tumors.Primary tumors: most of these tumors are benign and slow growing.Astrocytoma: a tumor of the supporting cells inside the spinal cord Meningioma: tumor of the tissue that covers the spinal cord Schwannoma: a tumor of the cells surrounding the nerve fibers Ependymoma: a tumor of the cells that line the cavities of the brain Lipoma: a tumor of the fat cellsSecondary tumors or metastasis: these tumors are cancer cells coming from other areas of the body.Prostate, lung, breast, thyroid, and kidney cancer tend to spread to the bones including the spine ProstateProstate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped structure that makes up part of a man's reproduc...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article LungLung cancer is cancer that starts in the lungs. The lungs are located in the chest. When you breathe, air goes through your nose, down your windpipe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BreastBreast cancer is cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast. There are two main types of breast cancer:Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (du...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ThyroidThyroid cancer is a cancer that starts in the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in the front of your lower neck.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article KidneyRenal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney cancer that starts in the lining of very small tubes (tubules) in the kidney.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Leukemia: a blood cancer that starts in the white cells in the bone marrow LeukemiaLeukemia is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of the bones, where blood cells are ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lymphoma: a cancer of the lymph tissue LymphomaHodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of lymph tissue. Lymph tissue is found in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow, and other sites.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Myeloma: a blood cancer that starts in the plasma cells of the bone marrowMyelomaMultiple myeloma is a blood cancer that starts from a type of white blood cell in the bone marrow called plasma cells. Bone marrow is the soft, spon...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The cause of primary spinal tumors is unknown. Some primary spinal tumors occur with certain inherited gene mutations.Spinal tumors can be located:Inside the spinal cord (intramedullary) In the membranes (meninges) covering the spinal cord (extramedullary - intradural) Between the meninges and bones of the spine (extradural) In the spine bones (vertebrae)As it grows, the tumor can affect the:Blood vessels Bones of the spine Meninges Nerve roots Spinal cord cellsThe tumor may press on the spinal cord or nerve roots, causing damage. With time, the damage may become permanent. Symptoms The symptoms depend on the location, type of tumor, and your general health. Secondary tumors that have spread to the spine from another site (metastatic tumors) often progress quickly. Primary tumors often progress slowly over weeks to years.Symptoms may include:Abnormal sensations or loss of sensation, especially in the legs Abnormal sensationsNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Back pain that gets worse over time, is often in the middle or lower back, is usually severe and not relieved by pain medicine, gets worse when lying down or straining (such as during a cough or sneeze), and may extend to the hips or legs Loss of bowel control, bladder leakage Loss of bowel controlBowel incontinence is the loss of bowel control, causing you to unexpectedly pass stool. This can range from sometimes leaking a small amount of sto...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bladder leakageUrinary (or bladder) incontinence occurs when you are not able to keep urine from leaking out of your urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle contractions,twitches, or spasms Muscle contractions,Muscle cramps are when a muscle gets tight (contracts) without you trying to tighten it, and it does not relax. Cramps may involve all or part of on...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article TwitchesMuscle twitches are fine movements of a small area of muscle.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle weakness (decreased muscle strength) in the legs that causes falls, makes walking difficult, and may get worse (progressive) and lead to paralysisMuscle weaknessWeakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests A nervous system (neurological) exam may help pinpoint the location of the tumor. Your health care provider may also find the following during an exam:Abnormal reflexes Increased muscle tone Loss of pain and temperature sensation Muscle weakness Tenderness in the spine These tests may confirm spinal tumor:Spine CT Spine CTA lumbosacral spine CT is a computed tomography scan of the lower spine and surrounding tissues.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spine MRI MRIA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spine x-ray Spine x-rayA thoracic spine x-ray is an x-ray of the 12 chest (thoracic) bones (vertebrae) of the spine. The vertebrae are separated by flat pads of cartilage ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examinationCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is a group of lab tests that measure chemicals in the cerebrospinal fluid. CSF is a clear fluid that surrounds an...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Myelogram (x-ray of the spinal canal that contains the spinal cord) PET scanPET scanA positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in the body...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The goal of treatment is to reduce or prevent nerve damage caused by pressure on (compression of) the spinal cord and ensure that you can walk.Treatment should be given quickly. The more quickly symptoms develop, the sooner treatment is needed to prevent permanent injury. Any new or unexplained back pain in a person with cancer should be promptly and thoroughly investigated.Treatments may include:Corticosteroids (dexamethasone) may be given to reduce inflammation and swelling around the spinal cord. Emergency surgery may be needed to relieve compression on the spinal cord. Some tumors can be completely removed. In other cases, part of the tumor may be removed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord. Radiation therapy may be used with, or instead of, surgery. Radiation therapyRadiation therapy uses high-powered radiation (such as x-rays or gamma rays), particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chemotherapy has not been proven effective against most primary spinal tumors, but it may be recommended in some cases, depending on the type of tumor. ChemotherapyThe term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to:Cure the cancerShrink the cancerPrevent the cancer from ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Physical therapy may be needed to improve muscle strength and the ability to function independently. Outlook (Prognosis) The outcome varies depending on the tumor. Early diagnosis and treatment usually leads to a better outcome.Nerve damage often continues, even after surgery. Although some amount of permanent disability is likely, early treatment may delay major disability and death. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have a history of cancer and develop severe back pain that is sudden or gets worse.Go to the emergency room or call 911 or the local emergency number if you develop new symptoms, or your symptoms get worse during the treatment of a spinal tumor.Open ReferencesReferencesFatima N, Massaad E, Shankar GM, Shin JH. Spinal tumors. In: Steinmetz MP, Berven SH, Benzel EC, eds. Benzel's Spine Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 70.Jakubovic R, Ruschin M, Tseng CL, Pejovic-Milic A, Sahgal A, Yang VXD. Surgical resection with radiation treatment planning of spinal tumors. Neurosurgery. 2019;84(6):1242-1250. PMID: 29796646 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29796646/.Mellinghoff IK, DeAngelis LM. Tumors of the central nervous system. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 175.Niglas M, Tseng C-L, Dea N, Chang E, Lo S, Sahgal A. Spinal cord compression. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 54.Soliman H, Fridely J, Oyelese A, Gokaslan ZL. Management of spinal metastatic tumors. In: Ellenbogen RG, Sekhar LN, Kitchen ND, da Silva Hb, eds. Principles of Neurological Surgery. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 32.
