SPINAL TUMOURS

Most malignant vertebral tumours are caused by cancer that starts somewhere else in the body and spreads to the spine. Cancer that spreads from an organ to another part of the body is called metastatic cancer. Cancers that affect the blood cells and bone marrow also can cause malignant vertebral tumours.

Vertebral tumours that start in the bones of the spine and haven't spread from somewhere else are rare. Another name for these tumours is primary bone tumours.

Signs and symptoms of vertebral tumours include:

• Back pain in the area of the tumour

• Back pain that radiates or shoots from the back to a nearby area

• Back pain that's worse at night

• Changes in sensation, such as numbness or a feeling of pins and needles

• Loss of the ability to move part of the body

• Loss of control over the bladder and bowels

• Muscle weakness.

Complications caused by vertebral tumours include:

• Spinal cord compression: Spinal cord compression happens when a tumour grows to press on the spinal cord or nearby nerves. It often causes back pain at first. Later it can cause weakness and numbness in the part of the body controlled by the affected nerves. There may be difficulty walking and a loss of control of the bladder and bowels.

• Spinal instability: Spinal instability can happen if a vertebral tumour weakens the bones in the spine. Bones weakened by tumours can break or go out of alignment. This can make it hard for the spine to hold the body upright. Spinal instability typically causes pain and can lead to weakness.

Treatments may help prevent or treat these complications.

Treatment for vertebral tumours includes surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Small and slow-growing vertebral tumours might not need treatment right away. The treatment that's best for your vertebral tumour depends on your situation. All depend on the type of tumour you have, whether it is cancerous and its location within the spine.