Adults · Conditions
Spinal cord tumours
Tumours in or around the spinal cord and its nerves. Many are benign; treatment is planned with the wider team.
What is it?
Spinal tumours may grow within the spinal cord itself (intramedullary, such as ependymoma or astrocytoma), within the coverings of the cord but outside it (intradural extramedullary, most often benign meningiomas and nerve sheath tumours such as schwannomas), or in the bones of the spine (most often metastases from cancer elsewhere).
What symptoms can it cause?
Symptoms may include back or neck pain, often worse at night or lying down; pain spreading along a nerve; numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs; difficulty walking or with balance; or changes in bladder or bowel control.
How is it assessed?
An MRI scan of the spine with contrast shows the tumour and its relation to the spinal cord and nerves. Other scans may be needed to look for a source elsewhere. Your care is planned with the wider team, including oncologists and, where relevant, orthopaedic spinal surgeons.
What are the treatment options?
Options include surgery, radiotherapy (including stereotactic techniques for some tumours), other cancer treatment, or monitoring with regular scans for some small, benign tumours. Many benign intradural tumours can be removed completely. Surgery is performed with intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring to help protect the spinal cord and nerves.
When might surgery be considered?
Surgery may be advised when a tumour causes symptoms, is growing, presses on the spinal cord, or when tissue is needed for diagnosis. Sudden weakness from spinal cord compression is an emergency.
What to expect from recovery and follow-up
Most people stay in hospital for several days. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation help recovery. Follow-up includes regular MRI scans.
When to seek urgent help
If you have a sudden severe headache, a seizure, new weakness, confusion, difficulty speaking, or loss of bladder or bowel control, go to the nearest emergency unit or call 10177. If you are under our care, also call the hospital switchboard and ask for Dr Labuschagne (Netcare Unitas Hospital 012 677 8000; Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital 010 133 0600). New weakness or numbness in the legs, or difficulty passing urine, needs urgent assessment.
Dr Labuschagne's publications on this topic
- Neethling W, Labuschagne J, Mutyaba D, Pillay T, Perner Y. Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumour involving the spine of an HIV-infected patient: a case report. Wits Journal of Neuroscience. 2023;4:10-13.
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This page is general information. Your doctor will advise on what applies to you.