Spinal Tumors & Spinal Cancer

Common Causes of Spinal Tumors

When you hear you may have a spinal tumor, your first thought is likely to be that you have cancer. While that is a possibility, it is not always the case. Spinal tumors may be related to cancer, or they may be caused by other conditions. Causes of spinal tumors include:

• Spinal cancer: There are some cancers that are specific to the spinal column, including Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, chordoma and chondrosarcoma, all of which are bone cancers that can cause tumors in and around the spine.
• Metastasis: Cancers that originate in other areas or systems of the body can spread or metastasize to the spine, leading to tumor growth. 
• Environmental factors: Some people who have been exposed to toxic chemicals or radiation may be at an increased risk of developing spinal tumors.
• Genetic conditions: Certain hereditary conditions, including Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Von Hippel-Lindau disease and neurofibromatosis, can cause spinal tumors.

Types of Spinal Tumors

There are many types of spinal tumors that are both benign and malignant, classified based on the location of the tumor and its nature, including:

• Primary spinal tumors: These are malignant tumors caused by spinal cancer, leading to tumor growth in or around the spinal column.
• Secondary spinal tumors: These are metastatic spinal tumors that have spread from cancer that originated in another part of the body.
• Extradural tumors: These tumors grow outside of the dura or the membrane surrounding the spinal cord, and include metastatic tumors, multiple myeloma, osteosarcoma, chordoma and osteoid osteoma.
• Intradural tumors: These grow inside the dura but outside the spinal cord itself (extramedullary) and are frequently benign. They include meningiomas, schwannomas, neurofibromas and myxopapillary ependymoma.
• Intramedullary tumors: These tumors grow from glial or ependymal cells inside the spinal cord, and include astrocytoma, ependymoma and hemangioblastoma.

Signs & Symptoms of Spinal Tumors

Common symptoms of both spinal tumors and spinal cancer frequently overlap with other neck and back conditions. Having any or all of these symptoms does not necessarily indicate the presence of a tumor or malignant cancer, but they should be evaluated by a qualified physician.

Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most prevalent symptoms of both spinal tumors and spinal cancer. In severe cases, the pain is persistent and is not alleviated by lying down or resting. One notable characteristic of this type of pain is that it may worsen at night.

Numbness

Sensations of numbness, tingling or pins and needles often accompany a diagnosis of spinal tumors, usually occurring in the arms or legs. In cases of spinal cancer, additional neurological symptoms may be noted, such as muscle weakness and loss of balance.

Mobility Issues

People with spinal tumors or spinal cancer may experience difficulty walking. Additionally, spinal cancer patients may also experience clumsiness or a decline in coordination.

Physiological Changes

In some cases, people who have tumors of the spine may notice a change in posture that makes it appear as if they’re stooping or hunching over. This spinal deformity is also common for people who have scoliosis or kyphosis, and doesn’t always indicate a tumor. People with spinal cancer may notice other physical changes, like a low-grade fever, chills, night sweats or a weakened immune system.

Bladder or Bowel Incontinence

Loss of bowel or bladder control can be a sign of both spinal tumors and spinal cancers, but it is also a sign of other serious back and spine conditions. No matter your medical history, if you are experiencing back problems and notice an issue with incontinence, you should seek immediate care.

How Spinal Tumors Are Diagnosed

Only a qualified physician, often an oncologist, can diagnose spinal cancer. Spine specialists can also diagnose spinal tumors, and may then refer you to an oncologist if some type of cancer is suspected. Common diagnostic tests include:

• MRIs: Magnetic resonance imaging is used to gain a clear and detailed picture of the spine and surrounding soft tissue.
• CT scans: CT scans are commonly used to get a visual of any tumors that might exist in or around the spine.
• Myelogram: This is a type of X-ray that uses contrast dye injected into the subarachnoid space.
• Biopsy: These procedures retrieve samples from existing tumors or abnormal tissue, which can then be tested for malignancy and type.

Treatment Options for Spinal Tumors & Spinal Cancer

Tumors or cancer can be a scary diagnosis, but both can frequently be treated and managed. Most of the time, your physician will suggest as conservative an approach as possible, though more invasive procedures may be recommended in serious cases or when tumor removal is imperative.

Non-Surgical Treatment

Non-surgical treatments are often a first-line approach to treating spinal cancer. These types of treatment may include:

• Radiation therapy: Radiation is used to target and shrink tumors, and may also alleviate pain.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is delivered orally or intravenously and uses powerful medication to kill or suppress cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy works to boost the immune system and slow the growth of cancer cells, sometimes with fewer side effects than chemotherapy.
• Steroid treatment: Steroids are often used for symptom management, reducing any inflammation around the spinal column to alleviate pain and prevent nerve damage.

Surgical Treatment

Several surgical treatments may be recommended to remove spinal tumors and relieve nerve compression. Common procedures include:

• Stabilization surgery: Both vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are used to treat fractures to the vertebrae (which can be caused by spinal tumors) by injecting bone cement to stabilize them.
• Laminectomy: Laminectomy is a decompression procedure that can help to alleviate pressure on nerve roots and the spinal cord by removing tumor tissue.
• En bloc resection: This procedure aims to remove an entire tumor at one time, often used on primary spinal tumors resulting from cancers like chordomas or sarcomas.

Across Houston, our patients have access to our expert neck, back and spine specialists so that you can get the best possible care personalized for your needs — without traveling far from home. Explore our footprint of locations in the Greater Houston area and suburbs below.