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Spinal Tumors


A spinal tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue either inside the spine or outside. It is also called a neoplasm meaning a new abnormal growth. They can develop in the bone, spread to other parts of the spine, or outside the spine, like the lungs and chest. Tumor cells can multiply slowly or very rapidly. Tumors are either cancerous or non-cancerous. They can develop anywhere in the spine:

  • Cervical - neck
  • Thoracic - mid-back
  • Lumbar - low-back
  • Sacral - sacrum

It is not uncommon for spinal tumors to develop out of a tumor from the individual's breast, lung, kidney, prostate, or another area of the body that has spread out.



11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Spinal Tumors


Symptoms


Whether cancerous or not, spinal tumors can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

  • Pain not related to an injury or physical activity.
  • Pain in the back or neck that presents suddenly, quickly worsens, especially at night. This can be an indicator of a spinal tumor.
  • Pain that radiates to other parts of the body, like the arms, hands, legs, and feet.
  • The pain continues even when resting.
  • Muscle weakness or loss of sensation, especially in the legs, arms, or chest.
  • Difficulty walking
  • Abnormal curvature of the spine not from poor posture
  • Paralysis
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control
  • Lowered sensitivity to heat and cold

An individual could have a dominating symptom/s or a combination.

 

Causes


As previously mentioned these tumors can originally develop in another part of the body and then metastasize to the spine. These types of tumors are secondary tumors. Research scientists are still trying to figure out what exactly causes primary tumors that originate in the spine. One theory believes genetics plays a role.





Early diagnosis


The most common symptom of a spinal tumor is pain. Examinations and diagnostic tests will be conducted both physical and neurological. A doctor or specialist needs to see and evaluate the spine. This is essential in diagnosing a potential tumor. A doctor could also order:

  • CT scan
  • MRI
  • PET scan - Positron Emission Tomography
  • Myelogram if there are symptoms of spinal cord compression

If the imaging reveals a tumor, a biopsy could be performed. A sample of tissue will be examined under a microscope to see if the tumor is cancerous or not. If the tumor is cancerous, the biopsy will show the type of cancer and determine the stage of the disease. Depending on the tumor type and location, other tests/procedures could be recommended.

 

Treatment


There are many factors that go into creating an optimal treatment plan. This includes whether the tumor is cancerous or not, size, location, and symptoms. Types of treatment:

  • Observe and wait as small non-cancerous tumors that are not growing or impinging/pinching other spinal structures could only need to be monitored for changes.
  • Surgery
  • Radiation treatment
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery works by delivering a high dose of radiation specifically targeted at the tumor
  • Chemotherapy


 

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Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

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The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to contact us. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN* email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com phone: 915-850-0900 Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*