Types of Spinal Tumour
A spinal tumour is an abnormal growth in or around the spinal cord or the bones of the spine. Many — such as meningiomas and schwannomas — are benign; others have spread from a cancer elsewhere. Symptoms come from pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
Spinal tumours are grouped by where they lie in relation to the dura (the covering of the cord) and the spinal cord itself, because this decides the treatment.
Spinal tumours are categorized by their anatomical location relative to the spinal cord and dura. For educational purposes only; individual outcomes vary and this content is not a substitute for personal medical advice.
Most often metastases from cancers such as breast, lung, prostate, kidney, or thyroid, or primary bone tumours. Read about vertebral body tumours.
Intradural extramedullary tumours are usually benign: meningioma, schwannoma, neurofibroma. Read about IDEM tumour removal.
Ependymoma, astrocytoma, haemangioblastoma. The most delicate to treat. Read about spinal tumour removal.
Symptoms
Clinical signs and symptoms of spinal tumours typically include:
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Back or neck pain: Often worse at night or lying down, and not settling with rest.
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Radiating pain: Pain spreading around the chest or down an arm or leg.
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Sensory and motor issues: Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the limbs.
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Gait disturbance: Unsteady walking.
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Autonomic changes: Bladder or bowel changes.
New or rapidly worsening weakness in the arms or legs, numbness spreading up the body, or new loss of bladder or bowel control — especially in someone known to have cancer — can mean the spinal cord is being compressed. Go to the nearest hospital emergency department without delay.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is established using advanced imaging and biopsy when necessary:
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MRI with contrast: Shows the tumour, its zone, and its relation to the spinal cord.
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CT scan: Evaluates bone involvement and stability.
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Whole-body imaging: CT or PET scans when a metastasis is suspected.
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Biopsy: Performed when the diagnosis is uncertain and it would change treatment.
Treatment Options
Small benign tumours without symptoms may be watched with periodic MRI.
To remove the tumour, relieve pressure, and stabilise the spine where needed. Spinal tumour removal · IDEM removal.
Conventional radiotherapy or precisely targeted radiosurgery, alone or after surgery.
Treatment of the primary cancer with medicines, coordinated with spine care.
For benign tumours, surgery often aims at complete removal; for metastases, the aim is usually to protect the spinal cord, relieve pain, and keep the spine stable, alongside cancer treatment. The choice should follow the anatomy of your condition, your own circumstances — your health, your work, and what matters to you in recovery — and the advice of your neurosurgeon after examining you and reviewing your scans.
Questions to Ask Your Neurosurgeon
These are the questions patients and families most often search for after a spinal tumour is found:
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Zone and type: Which zone is the tumour in, and what type is it likely to be?
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Benign vs malignant: Is it likely to be benign?
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Treatment timing: Does it need treatment now, or can it be watched?
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Modalities: Is surgery, radiation, or both recommended, and why?
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Spinal cord risk: Is the spinal cord at risk while we decide?
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Multidisciplinary care: Which specialists will be involved in my care?
Unless there is an emergency, spine surgery is a planned decision. Seeking a second opinion from a qualified spine surgeon or neurosurgeon before deciding is entirely appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
General information only. Please consult a qualified spine surgeon or neurosurgeon for advice about your situation.
A spinal tumour is an abnormal growth within or around the spinal cord or the bones of the spine. It may be benign, such as a meningioma or schwannoma, or malignant, including tumours that have spread from cancers elsewhere.
Not always. Many tumours inside the dura but outside the cord, such as meningiomas and schwannomas, are benign. Tumours in the vertebral bones of adults are more often metastases from cancer elsewhere.
Common first symptoms are persistent back or neck pain, often worse at night or lying down, pain spreading around the chest or into a limb, and later numbness, weakness, or unsteady walking.
Spinal tumours are classified as extradural (outside the dura, often metastases), intradural extramedullary (inside the dura but outside the cord, usually benign), and intramedullary (inside the spinal cord).
Some can. Small benign tumours without symptoms may be observed, and some tumours respond to radiation or radiosurgery. Tumours compressing the spinal cord or causing instability usually need surgery.
Spinal tumours are treated by neurosurgeons together with oncologists and radiation specialists. Dr Jaydev Panchawagh—MBBS (B.J. Medical College, Pune), MS in General Surgery (KEM Hospital, Pune), and MCh in Neurosurgery (Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai)—is a consultant neurosurgeon in Pune (102, Bhagyatara Society, Erandwane, Pune, Maharashtra 411004; Tel: +91-9011333841) with 27 years of neurosurgical practice who assesses spinal tumours and performs tumour removal surgery.
