Spinal Cord Tumors

Just as with tumors in the brain, spine tumors can be either benign or malignant. The three categories that spinal cord tumors are classified in are the following: (1) intramedullary, arising from the actual spinal cord itself, (2) intradural extramedullary, arising from the dura (the layer covering the spinal cord) but outside the actual spinal cord, and (3) extradural, arising most often from the vertebral bodies. Extradural tumors comprise 90 % of spine tumors. Tumors of the spine cause symptoms because of the important and abundant nerves and nerve pathways that course in this area, and include changes in movement, sensation, balance, and pain. The treatment your doctor will choose depends on many factors, such as the location and specific type of the tumor. Sometimes, surgery can be curative. Other times, options may include a combination of surgery and radiation therapy.