Spinal Tumor Symptoms You Should Know

A spinal tumor is a mass of cells that forms inside or surrounding the spine. Spinal tumors, a very rare disease, can be cancerous or noncancerous. A spinal tumor is a serious condition and there is no known cause. The outlook of this disease varies, depending on your conditions. Seeking early diagnosis and treatment are always beneficial.

Spinal Tumor Symptoms


As there are different types of spinal tumors, their symptoms vary. The following are some of the general spinal tumor symptoms:

The spinal cord is key in your body’s ability to physically feel all sensations. When a tumor is pressing against your spinal cord, either loss of sensation or extreme pain can be felt in any area of the body, depending on the location of the tumor and which nerve within your spine it is pressing.

When to See a Doctor

Spinal cancer tumors usually grow quite quickly, while benign tumors
usually will grow more slowly. Spinal tumor symptoms may either have a quick onset or will steadily get worse. Usually its pain or numbness will not cease with rest or different positioning. It is important to contact your health care worker or facility if you have any of the following potential spinal tumor symptoms.

Many spinal tumor symptoms also indicate different underlying physical health issues. If you experience some of the above mentioned symptoms, don't be alarmed but definitely make an appointment with your doctor because they may indicate other serious underlying diseases. Seek emergency health care immediately if you are suffering from any of the following:

Spinal Tumor Diagnosis

There are a few ways a doctor will generally use to diagnose spinal tumor:

Types of Spinal Tumors

There are different types of spinal tumors:

Vertebral Column Tumors

Intradural-Extramedullary Tumors

Intramedullary tumors

They grow directly from individual nerves and spinal cord, which are generally found in the neck area. The majority of intramedullary tumors are noncancerous. There are two common types of intramedullary tumors: Astrocytomas and Ependymomas

Treatments for Spinal Tumor Symptoms

Cancerous and noncancerous tumors both may cause spinal tumor symptoms. If you, or someone you care for, are experiencing potential spinal tumor symptoms, please see your health care worker. The aim of treatment is to reduce symptoms and limit nerve damages due to the pressure on the spinal cord. Once diagnosis has been completed, treatments should be given as soon as possible. The main treatment methods for spinal tumors include:

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