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:

• Back pain that progressively worsens, is unrelated to activity, and is worse when people lie down
• Decreased sensation, progressive weakness, or paralysis in areas controlled by the parts of the spinal cord below the part that is compressed
• Erectile dysfunction
• Loss of bladder and bowel control

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

• Radiotherapy
  
• Chemotherapy
  
• Pancreatic Cancer�
  
• Spinal Cord Tumors�� etc

Few Major Hospitals for treatment of Spinal Cord Tumor are

• Wockhardt Hospitals
  
• Apollo Hospitals
  
• Max Healthcare
  
• Piyavate Hospital�
  
• Florence Nightingale Hospital�
  

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