Spinal tumors
Causes
In most cases, the causes of spinal tumors are unknown. Cancer and other tumors are multifactorial in nature, so there are many possible causes and it is very difficult to trace the exact trigger. In some cases, they have a genetic component, especially in the case of von Hippel-Lindau disease and Neurofibromatosis 2.
Risk factors
You might have a higher chance to get spinal cancer and other forms of spinal tumors if you have one or a combination of risk factors:
High levels of radiations or exposure to chemotherapeutic agents
If you have a family history of hereditary cancers
Patients with a weakened immune system due to AIDS, transplanted organs, or another reason
Symptoms
The symptoms of this type of tumors are associated with the region of the alteration. Back pain is the most common symptom, more frequently associated with the lower back or the middle back. It increases with activity and when the patient is lying down. Other symptoms that depend on the location of the tumor include:
Stiff neck
Loss of sensation and tingling of the arms or legs
Weakness of the legs and difficulty walking
A reduction in pain sensitivity
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Different degrees of paralysis
Spinal deformities such as scoliosis as the tumor grows larger
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of spinal tumor requires a very complex interplay of imaging studies. Each one is recommended for a different reason. One of the first imaging studies to be made is an X-ray when doctors are not yet sure why the patient is feeling back pain. They give doctors clues as to where the problem is located, but serve little to diagnose tumors.
Thus, the next step is a Computed Tomography scan of the spine, which allows doctors to examine the bones and soft tissue. An MRI is even more useful in these cases, especially to evaluate nerve involvement in the disease. In some cases, doctors would also recommend a bone scan with Technectium-99, a specific agent for bone tumors.
Treatment
Treatment of bone tumors is very complex and requires a lot of testing and a multi-disciplinary team to make the best recommendations for each patient. Surgery is a common indication, especially in tumors that compress the spinal cord or destabilize its structure. It is only considered in patients without metastases.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are also very useful in spinal cancer, but they depend on the type of tumor. Some of them respond very well to these measures, but some do not.