Spinal cord tumours
Tumours that start in the spinal cord are called primary spinal cord tumours. They are rare. There are different types of primary spinal cord tumours. The most common types are:
- meningiomas
- tumours of the spinal nerves (neurofibromas and schwannomas)
- ependymomas.
Cancers can spread to the spinal cord from elsewhere in the body. These are called spine metastases or secondary cancers. They are different from ones that started in the spine (primary spinal cord tumours). They often need different treatment.
What are spinal cord tumours?
The spinal cord is a long bundle of nerves that stretches from the brain to the lower part of your back. The nerves send messages that control movement and feeling in different parts of our body. The bones around the spinal cord are called vertebrae and they protect the spinal cord.
Primary spinal cord tumours can start in:
- the cells of the spinal cord itself
- the membranes (meninges) that cover the spinal cord
- the nerves of the spinal cord
The nerves that control the movement and feeling of our body come out of different parts on the spine. Tumours that start on the top part of the spine can cause numbness and weakness on your arms. And tumours in the lower part of the spinal can affect your:
- legs
- bowel or bladder control
- sexual function
Symptoms of spinal cord tumours include pain and numbness or weakness in different parts of the body. You may also lose control of your bladder or bowel.
Types of spinal cord tumours
Doctors use different terms to describe spinal cord tumours.
Intradural spinal tumours
You might hear the term 'intradural'. The dura is the tough outer layer of tissue that covers the brain and the spinal cord. Intradural tumours start within the spinal cord or within the covering of the spinal cord.
Your doctor might also describe your tumour as intramedullary or extramedullary.
Intramedullary tumours
These tumours begin in the cells within the spinal cord. Common types of intramedullary tumours include:
- gliomas
- astrocytomas
- ependymomas
Extramedullary tumours
These tumours begin within the spine's protective cover (dura), but are outside the actual spinal cord. Examples of extramedullary tumours include:
- meningiomas
- neurofibromas
- schwannomas
Other types of spinal tumours
Some tumours start in the bones in the spinal column (vertebrae). For example, chordoma is a rare type of bone cancer that usually starts in the bones of the spine or skull. We have information about chordomas in the bone cancer section.
Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects the plasma cells. Myeloma commonly affects the vertebrae.
Some cancers can spread into the vertebrae from elsewhere in the body. These are called secondary bone cancers or metastases. For example, lung, breast and prostate cancer can spread to the vertebrae.
Grade of tumour
Your doctor may also tell you how fast growing your tumour is. Spinal cord tumours can be low grade (slow growing) or high grade (fast growing).
How common it is
Spinal cord tumours are rare. Around 3 in every 100 brain tumours (around 3%) start in the spinal cord. They are more common in adults than in children.
What tests will I have?
You have tests to diagnose a spinal cord tumour. Your doctor checks the size of the tumour and whether it has spread. This helps your doctor plan your treatment. The tests you might have include:
- MRI scan or CT scan
- biopsy
- blood tests
- a test to check the fluid that circulates around your brain and spinal cord (lumbar puncture)
Treatment
Treatment for a spinal cord tumour depends on:
- the type of tumour you have
- its position on the spinal cord
- your age and how well you are
Treatment can be different for adults and children. The information on this page is about treatment for adults.
A highly specialised doctor (neurosurgeon) removes as much of the tumour as possible. Sometimes this is the only treatment you need.
It isn’t always possible to completely remove the tumour during the operation. Especially if the tumour is in the inner part of the spinal cord. Even if some of tumour is left behind, surgery can help to reduce your symptoms.
You might need further treatment such as radiotherapy if:
- some of the tumour has been left behind
- you have a high grade tumour
Radiotherapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumour cells. You might have radiotherapy:
- after surgery, if some of the tumour was left behind
- if your tumour comes back after treatment
- if your tumour is high grade
You usually have a type of radiotherapy called external beam radiotherapy.
You might take drugs called steroids to help reduce the swelling around the tumour. You usually carry on taking steroids for some time after surgery or radiotherapy. This helps with your symptoms and reduces damage to the spinal cord.
Doctors don’t often use chemotherapy to treat primary spinal cord tumours. This depends on the type of tumour you have. Research shows that chemotherapy doesn’t work as well for spinal tumours as it does for primary brain tumours.
You might have chemotherapy if your tumour comes back, or as part of a clinical trial.
Follow up
You have regular appointments with your doctor or nurse after treatment finishes. Your doctor examines you at each appointment. They ask how you are feeling, whether you have had any symptoms or side effects, and if you are worried about anything. You might have hearing tests. And you might also have MRI scans on some visits.
How often you have check ups depends on your individual situation.
Coping with spinal cord tumours
Coping with a diagnosis of a spinal cord tumour can be difficult, both practically and emotionally. It can be especially difficult when you have a rare tumour. Being well informed about the type of tumour you have, and its treatment can make it easier to cope.
Research and clinical trials
Doctors are always trying to improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours. As part of your treatment, your doctor might ask you to take part in a clinical trial. This might be to test a new treatment or look at different combinations of existing treatments.
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