Spinal tumors can form anywhere in and along your spinal column, which includes your vertebrae, spinal cord, and the tissues surrounding your spinal cord. Most spinal tumors result from cancer metastasis — cancer that has spread from another area of your body to the spine
Spinal tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). If the tumor continues to grow, it can cause damage to different tissues in your spinal column.
Types of spinal tumors
Spinal tumors are categorized in many ways, including:
- Tumor located along the spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacrum).
- Tumor located within your spinal column.
- If the tumor began in the spine or is the result of metastasis from cancer in another area of your body
- If the tumor is benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
How to recognize a tumor?
A variety of diagnostic tests are performed to identify spinal cord tumors…
Neurological Exam
During a neurological exam, the healthcare planner or provider requests the patient to describe symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness and when it began. The doctor may also check your reflexes, muscle strength, vision, coordination, and balance. In addition, the doctor may insert a gloved finger into the anus to examine rectal muscle tone, which can be weakened by a tumor that affects muscles and coordination.
Myelography
Myelography is an imaging technique used to look for spinal cord compression or inflammation when an MRI scan cannot be performed—for example, if one has a pacemaker or if one has recently had an MR perfusion.
In this type of diagnosis, a radiologist first injects a local anaesthetic in the back before injecting a contrast dye into the spinal fluid cavity to enhance the image. The radiologist then takes a CT scan, which uses X-rays to make a detailed picture of bony structures in the area where the tumor is located. The image reveals the outline of the tumor and can help in planning treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy.
MRI Scan
An MRI scan is the most reliable method of diagnosing spinal cord tumors, although additional tests are needed to confirm the type of tumor. MRI is also useful in identifying spinal cord compression, which occurs when a tumor presses against the nerves within the spinal cord.
This imaging test uses a magnetic field, radio waves, and a computer to produce detailed, three-dimensional pictures of the spinal cord and other soft tissues in and around the spine, including nerve roots and growths.
Before the procedure starts, your doctor may give you a contrast agent through an injection into a vein to enhance these images.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Scan
This resembles an MRI scan, except it measures the chemical changes in the spinal cord that may indicate the presence of a tumor. MRS scanning creates a detailed image that can help the doctor determine the type of tumor, based on its chemical components.
Magnetic Resonance Perfusion Scan
Unlike a conventional MRI scan, which looks for the presence of a tumor, an MR perfusion scan can detect how much blood has entered the spine and tumor. This indicates how the tumor is growing, which can help to determine the best location to perform a biopsy.
Spinal Angiography
Doctors perform spinal angiography to examine the blood vessels leading to and from a spinal cord tumor. Information about the size and number of blood vessels involved helps prevent excessive blood loss during surgery.
During this test, the doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube, called a catheter, into an artery in the leg. A contrast dye is delivered through the catheter, and a technician takes pictures of the blood flow with a three-dimensional fluoroscope, which is similar to an X-ray.
After determining the diagnosis using the results of these tests, the doctors work to eliminate as much of the tumor as possible and offer treatments to relieve symptoms such as pain, weakness, and numbness.
Early diagnosis and treatment are important to detect spinal tumors.
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