Spine Tumor

Spine tumors are abnormal growths of tissue that develop within or near the spinal cord or the bones of the spine. These tumors can originate from various cell types and may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Understanding the types, symptoms, and treatment options for spine tumors is crucial for providing timely and effective care. 

Conditions Treated By The Department

The Spine Tumor department specializes in diagnosing and treating a range of tumors affecting the spine. These can be primary tumors originating in the spine or metastatic tumors that have spread from other parts of the body. Common diseases and conditions treated by a Spine Tumor department include:

• Metastatic Spinal Tumors: Secondary tumors that have spread to the spine from other areas of the body, commonly from cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, and kidney.
• Primary Spinal Cord Tumors: These tumors originate in the spinal cord, nerve roots, or dura mater. They can be benign or malignant and include astrocytomas, ependymomas, and meningiomas.
• Vertebral Column Tumors: Tumors that arise in the bones of the spine. They can be benign (like osteoid osteoma, aneurysmal bone cysts) or malignant (like osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma).
• Intradural-Extramedullary Tumors: These are tumors that occur within the dura mater but outside the spinal cord, such as schwannomas and meningiomas.
• Extradural Tumors: Tumors outside the dura mater, often metastatic or arising from the vertebral bodies or other surrounding structures.
• Multiple Myeloma: A blood cancer that frequently affects the spine, causing pain, fractures, and spinal cord compression.
• Spinal Cord Compression: This is a common complication of spinal tumors, whether primary or metastatic and requires urgent treatment to prevent permanent damage.
• Pathological Spine Fractures: Fractures in the spine caused by the weakening of the bone due to tumor presence.

Common Procedures

• Spinal Tumor Resection: Surgical removal of the tumor from the spine. This can be a complex procedure, especially if the tumor is within or close to the spinal cord.
• Laminectomy for Tumor Access: This involves removing part of the vertebral bone (lamina) to access and remove the tumor.
• Debulking of Tumors: In cases where complete removal is not possible, debulking (reducing the size of the tumor) is performed to alleviate pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
• Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty: For tumors causing vertebral fractures, these minimally invasive procedures involve injecting bone cement into the collapsed vertebra to stabilize it.
• Spinal Stabilization: Post-tumor resection, if the spine's stability is compromised, procedures to stabilize the spine using rods, screws, and cages may be necessary.
• Radiotherapy: Including stereotactic radiosurgery, used to target spinal tumors precisely with minimal impact on surrounding healthy tissue.
• Chemotherapy: Systemic treatment to shrink or control the growth of spinal tumors, often used in conjunction with other therapies.
• Palliative Care Procedures: For advanced cancers, procedures like nerve blocks or epidural injections are performed to manage pain.
• Biopsy: A minimally invasive procedure to obtain a tissue sample for diagnosing the type of spinal tumor.
• Spinal Cord Decompression: If the tumor causes spinal cord compression, this procedure is performed urgently to prevent permanent damage.
• Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Techniques: Whenever possible, these are used to reduce recovery time and lower the risk of complications.

Key Advantages

• Pain Relief: Effective treatment of spine tumors can lead to significant pain relief, improving the patient's overall quality of life.
• Preservation of Neurological Function: Timely intervention can help preserve or restore neurological function, preventing further loss of sensation or motor function.
• Improved Quality of Life: Successful treatment of spine tumors can lead to an overall improvement in the patient's quality of life, allowing them to engage in normal activities.
• Long-Term Survival: With appropriate treatment, many patients with spine tumors, even malignant ones, can achieve long-term survival and quality of life.

Call 011-42888888 to book an appointment with a specialist at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute.