FAQ

Spinal tumours can cause progressive back or neck pain that worsens over time and often feels worse at night. Unlike mechanical pain that improves with rest, tumour-related pain is typically unrelenting. You might develop weakness, numbness, or difficulty walking if the tumour compresses the spinal cord or nerves. Loss of bladder or bowel control can occur with significant cord compression. Some people experience unexplained weight loss or general unwellness. However, these symptoms aren’t specific to tumours and can result from other conditions. Persistent, progressive pain with neurological symptoms warrants investigation including imaging to rule out serious causes.

Spinal tumours can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Many are actually metastases, meaning cancer has spread to the spine from elsewhere in the body, most commonly from lung, breast, prostate, kidney, or thyroid cancers. Primary spinal tumours originating in the spine itself are less common and can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumours like meningiomas or nerve sheath tumours grow slowly and don’t spread but can still cause problems by compressing neural structures. The type, location, and behaviour of the tumour determine treatment approach and prognosis.

Diagnosis requires imaging, typically starting with MRI, which provides detailed images of the spine, spinal cord, and any masses. This shows the tumour’s location, size, and relationship to surrounding structures. CT scans help assess bone involvement. Once a tumour is identified, determining its type often requires a biopsy, where a small tissue sample is examined under a microscope. Blood tests and imaging of other body areas may be needed to check whether the tumour is a metastasis. A multidisciplinary team including spine surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists collaborates to establish the diagnosis and plan treatment.

Many spinal tumours can be surgically removed, though feasibility depends on the tumour’s type, location, and relationship to the spinal cord and nerves. Benign tumours that are well-circumscribed can often be completely excised. For malignant tumours, the goal may be to remove as much as safely possible whilst preserving neurological function. Sometimes complete removal isn’t feasible if the tumour is intimately involved with vital neural structures. Surgery may be combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. In cases of metastatic disease, treatment focuses on relieving pain, stabilising the spine, and decompressing nerves, often as part of broader cancer management.

Prognosis varies enormously depending on tumour type. Benign tumours that can be completely removed often have excellent outcomes with no recurrence. Primary malignant spinal tumours have variable prognoses depending on the specific type and grade. For metastatic disease, the outlook relates to the primary cancer type, extent of spread, and response to treatment. However, even with metastatic disease, treating spinal involvement can significantly improve quality of life by relieving pain, preserving mobility, and preventing paralysis. A multidisciplinary approach provides the best outcomes, and advances in treatments continue improving results for many tumour types.