Spinal tumor Health Article

Definition

A spinal tumor is a growth of cells (mass) in or surrounding the spinal cord.

Alternative Names

Tumor - spinal cord

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Any type of tumor may occur in the spine, including:

• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Myeloma

A small number of spinal tumors occur in the nerves of the spinal cord itself. Most often these are ependymomas and other gliomas.

Tumors that start in spinal tissue are called primary spinal tumors. Tumors that spread to the spine from some other place (metatastasis) are called secondary spinal tumors.

The cause of primary spinal tumors is unknown. Some primary spinal tumors occur with genetic defects. A spinal tumor is much less common than a primary brain tumor.

Spinal tumors can occur:

• Inside the cord (intramedullary)
• In the membranes (meninges) covering the spinal cord (extramedullary - intradural)
• Between the meninges and bones of the spine (extradural)

Or, tumors may extend from other locations. Most spinal tumors are extradural.

As it grows, the tumor can affect the:

• Blood vessels
• Bones of the spine
• Meninges
• Nerve roots
• Spinal cord cells

It may press on (compress) the spinal cord or nerve roots (similar to spinal cord trauma), invade normal cells, or block blood vessels and lead to a lack of oxygen (ischemia).

Symptoms

The symptoms depend on the location, type of tumor, and your general health. Tumors that have spread to the spine from another site (metastatic tumors) often progress quickly. Primary tumors often progress slowly over weeks to years.

Tumors in the spinal cord (intramedullary) usually cause symptoms, sometimes over large portions of the body. Tumors outside the spinal cord (extramedullary) may grow for a long time before causing nerve damage.

Symptoms may include:

• Abnormal sensations, loss of sensation:
  • Especially in the legs (may be in the knee or ankle, with or without shooting pain down the leg)
  • May worsen
• Back pain:
  • Gets worse over time
  • In any area -- middle or low back are most common
  • Is usually severe and not relieved by pain medication
  • Is worse when lying down
  • Is worse with strain, cough, sneeze
  • May extend to the hip, leg, or feet (or arms), or all extremities
  • May stay in the spine
• Cold sensation of the legs, cool fingers or hands, or coolness of other areas
• Fecal incontinence
• Inability to keep from leaking urine (urinary incontinence)
• Muscle contractions or spasms (fasciculations)
• Muscle function loss
• Muscle weakness (decreased muscle strength not due to exercise):
  • Causes falls
  • Especially in the legs
  • Makes walking difficult
  • May get worse (progressive)