There are two main sources of spinal tumours:
1. Tumours that develop from the bones of the spine itself: These tumours start in the spinal cord or the bones surrounding the spinal cord. They can be both benign (non-malignant) and malignant (cancerous).
2. Tumours that start elsewhere in the body and spread to the spine:These tumours are tumours that start in another part of the body and spread to the spine over time. They are usually malignant tumours and can affect the spinal cord or the bones surrounding the spinal cord.
Symptoms of Spinal Tumours:
Spinal tumours can cause certain symptoms. These may include the following:
– Spinal Pain: Tumours in the spine area often cause back pain. This pain is usually a pain caused by devastated bones.
– Collapse of the vertebrae: As the tumour progresses, the vertebrae may weaken and collapse, which may compress the spinal cord or nerve roots.
– Spinal cord compression: Spinal tumours can compress the spinal cord and cause spinal cord compression.This can cause pain, numbness, weakness and even loss of bladder or bowel control.
– Difficulty walking: As a result of spinal cord compression, there may be weakness or instability in the legs, which leads to difficulty walking.
Treatment Options for Spinal Tumours:
Treatment of spinal tumours is determined depending on the type, size and spread of the tumour and the general health status of the patient. Treatment options may include:
1. Surgical Treatment:Removal of the tumour and affected bones often requires surgery. During surgery, the spine can be supported by replacing the tumour with a metal cage or materials such as cement.Surgical procedures may also be performed to remove tumours that are compressing the spinal cord or to correct bones that are compressing the spinal cord.
2. Radiation Therapy:In some cases, radiation therapy may be used to support surgical treatment or to control the growth of the tumour.
3. Drug Therapy: Chemotherapy or targeted drugs may be used, especially for cancerous tumours.
Follow-up and Rehabilitation: Patients should be kept under close follow-up after treatment, especially malignant tumours have a high risk of recurrence. In addition, rehabilitation programmes after surgical intervention can help patients regain their function.
Spinal tumours are a complex and serious health problem. The treatment approach usually requires the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team and is individualised for each patient. The patient’s medical history, examination and radiological imaging results are important for diagnosis and treatment planning.