Tumors are one of the severe medical conditions and are not unknown to the world anymore. They can occur in several parts of the body, one of which is the spine. Yes, the human spine is vulnerable to developing tumors, and abnormal growth in the spine is generally categorized into metastatic tumors or primary tumors.
Metastatic tumors generally describe the cancerous spread from other parts of the body, and the spinal column is among the most vulnerable areas for the growth of metastatic tumors. These tumors are common, and a spine tumor specialist in Ahmedabad generally treats them without surgery unless there is a neurologic compromise or resultant spinal ability. In the majority of cases, radiation or chemotherapy is used to treat metastatic lesions.
Primary spinal tumors can be cancerous(malignant) or benign and are further divided into extradural and intradural neoplasms. Extradural tumors refer to abnormal growth affecting the vertebrae’s bony structures and can develop in an epidural space. Intradural tumors are those arising in or from the dural sac containing nerves and the spinal cord. These tumors are further categorized into extramedullary or intramedullary tumors and indicate whether the tumor is rising from the spinal cord coverings or within the spinal cord. Overall, these tumors are uncommon but are something people should be aware of.
Extradural Tumors
- Malignant tumors
- Chordoma
- Chondrosarcoma
- Ewing’s sarcoma
- Lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Osteosarcoma
- Solitary plasmacytoma
Benign
- Aneurysmal bone cyst
- Angiolipoma
- Eosinophilic granuloma
- Giant cell tumor
- Hemangioma
- Osteoblastoma
- Osteochondroma
- Osteoid osteoma
Intradural Tumors
- Intramedullary tumors
- Astrocytoma
- Cholesteatoma
- Dermoid
- Epidermoid
- Ependymoma
- Hemangioblastoma
- Neuroblastoma
- Oligodendroglioma
- PNET
- Subependymoma
- Teratoma
Extramedullary tumors
- Ependymomas
- Meningioma
- Neurofibroma
- Schwannoma
Causes of Thoracolumbar Spine Tumors
Cancer and neoplasms refer to the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of the cells, and there is also a possibility that the growth will be at an abnormal location. However, the root causes of tumors and cancers are generally unknown, but sometimes, people with known exposure to agents that cause cancer can be identified.
Symptoms of Thoracolumbar Spine Tumors
The most common symptom of thoracolumbar spine tumor is back pain. People with this tumor can also have unrelenting or night pain, which usually remains untreated even with traditional measures or rest. Moreover, patients might suffer from limited mobility, stiffness, numbness, or weakness if the tumor results in neurologic compression or irritation. Not all, but some might have low fever, fatigue, night sweats, appetite loss, malaise, and more.
Laboratory Tests
Spine specialists often recommend laboratory tests once the neoplastic work is done. Additionally, tests like CBC (Complete Blood Count) with differential, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP), urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP), and ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) are often ordered when analyzing tumors. These laboratory examinations help in confirming the diagnosis of leukemia, lymphoma, infection, or multiple myeloma. In some cases, a PPD skin test is also ordered to check for tuberculosis since it can very well mimic spinal tumors.
Diagnosis
The development and visibility of early symptoms affect the diagnosis of spinal tumors. Patients with symptoms like fevers, unrelenting pain, night sweats, chills, night pain, and weight loss should be evaluated appropriately and ordered imaging/laboratory tests according to the requirement.
Treatment Options
Treatment for thoracolumbar spinal tumors depends on several factors, including the patient’s age and the type and stage of the medical condition, severity of neurologic compression, severity of the patient’s symptoms, and bony destruction. As stated above, these tumors are generally treated without surgery until there’s a particular case, whereas benign primary bone tumors are generally treated with the help of surgical tumor resection. Malignant primary spine tumors are treated using radiation/chemotherapy and surgical resection. The surgical way of treating these tumors comprises neurologic decompression and instrumentation in addition to tumor resection and fusion.
Wrapping Up
The spine plays a crucial role even in the day-to-day activities of humans, and even though not every spinal tumor is common or rare, you need to know about certain tumors. Also, to keep your spine health in check, visit a spine hospital in Ahmedabad for a problem-based or regular check-up.
