Spinal Tumors

Spinal tumors are tumors that can develop from any of the structures making up the spine and spinal cord, such as bone, nerve, and soft tissue. Tumors can be located in any region of the spine, including the neck, upper back, lower back, and tailbone. Tumors can have two kinds of origin. The first are tumors arising from the cells that form the structure of the spine and spinal cord, and these are called primary tumors. The second are tumors that develop in the spine through the spread of tumors originating in other parts of the body (breast, prostate, lung, etc.), and these are called metastatic tumors. The most prominent sign is neck, upper back, or lower back pain at rest. Signs such as weight loss, fever, and fatigue may also appear.

The diagnostic process begins with the patient's history and a physical examination. Patients may have a history of cancer that was treated in the past or is currently under treatment. The diagnosis is made with imaging studies such as plain X-ray, CT, PET, and MRI. If a tumor has been detected with imaging methods, the next step is to perform a biopsy to determine its type and origin. The non-surgical treatment methods for spinal tumors are observation, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

For primary malignant tumors originating in the spine itself, surgical treatment is usually preferred as soon as they are detected. The aim is to remove the malignant tumor cells from the body as soon as possible. In metastatic spinal tumors, if they are causing progressive neurological loss or a rapid loss of bowel and bladder control, surgery may again be required.

The surgical treatment of spinal tumors is the partial or complete removal of the tumor. The total recovery time can range from 3 months to 1 year, depending on how complex the surgery is.