Spinal Cord Tumors

Tumors that originate within the substance of the spinal cord are called intramedullary spinal cord tumors. The most common types are called astrocytoma, ependymoma, and ganglioglioma. The great majority of them are benign and grow slowly. Because of this slow growth these tumors can remain asymptomatic and thus undetected for considerable time. Symptoms frequently are noted over months or even years. A common presentation in children is severe back pain, characteristically worse at night, and difficult to control with commonly used pain medication. It may take a long time for more severe symptoms such as decrease of sensation or weakness to appear. In adolescents and adults the symptoms are more often dependent on the tumor type. Tingling or burning sensations, so-called dysesthesias, in the body below the level of the tumor are a frequent manifestation. Scoliosis or abnormal curvature of the spine may also be a symptom of a spinal cord tumor.

In this day and age spinal cord tumors are noninvasively diagnosed with Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI scans. The first option of treatment to be considered is almost in all cases surgical resection, as a substantial portion of patients with benign intramedullary tumors can be cured with surgery alone.

Peter Semczuk,