Spinal Cord Tumors
A spinal cord tumor is a non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) growth in or around the spinal cord. They may originate in the cells within or next to the spinal cord. Only about 10% of primary spinal cord tumors originate in the cells within the spinal cord. These tumors can extend within the cord and cause a fluid-filled cavity (syrinx) to form.
Causes
Exact cause of this is not known.
Symptoms
Symptoms are caused by pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. Pressure on the spinal cord may cause the following:
Pressure on the spinal cord may also block the blood supply to the cord, resulting in death of tissue, fluid accumulation, and swelling. Fluid accumulation may block more of the blood supply, leading to a vicious circle of damage. Symptoms due to pressure on the spinal cord can worsen quickly.
Pressure on spinal nerve roots can cause pain, numbness, tingling, weakness in areas supplied by the compressed nerve root. Pain may radiate along the nerve whose root is compressed. If compression continues, the affected muscles may waste away. Walking may become difficult.
Diagnosis
Several procedures can help doctors diagnose a spinal cord tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the best procedure for examining all the structures of the spinal cord and spine. When MRI is unavailable, myelography with computed tomography (CT) may be done instead. X-rays of the spine can show only changes in the bones, and many tumors do not affect the bone when they are in an early stage.
A biopsy is usually needed to diagnose the precise type of tumor, especially primary spinal cord tumors. However, a biopsy is not needed for spinal cord tumors that result from metastases if cancer has been diagnosed elsewhere in the body. Often, a biopsy requires surgery, but sometimes it can be done using a needle with computed tomography (CT) or MRI to guide doctors as they place the needle in the tumor.
Treatment
If symptoms suggest that the tumor is compressing the spinal cord, corticosteroids are immediately given in high doses to reduce the swelling. Such tumors are treated as soon as possible, often surgically.
Many tumors of the spinal cord and spine can be removed surgically. If tumors cannot be removed, radiation therapy is used, sometimes after surgery to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord is done.
Recovery generally depends on how quickly treatment begins and how much damage was done. Removal of meningiomas, neurofibromas, and some other primary spinal cord tumors may be curative.
The other Oncology Procedures are
Few Major Hospitals for treatment of Spinal Cord Tumor are
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