Many people may be familiar with tumors often seen in newspapers or medical news, especially with malignant tumors like cancer, which increasingly claim lives worldwide each year. However, most people may not know that “tumors” can also occur in the “bones,” particularly with bone tumors and spinal cord tumors. Nowadays, the number of patients diagnosed with these conditions is increasing. Therefore, it is beneficial to get to know bone tumors and spinal cord tumors to better protect ourselves from these serious diseases.
Getting to Know Bone Tumors and Spinal Cord Tumors
Bone tumors and spinal cord tumors, or Spinal Cord Tumors, are considered nervous system tumors, accounting for about 20% of all nervous system tumors in the body. There are several types, classified according to their location, such as
Tumors within the spinal cord tissue are not very common, but if they occur in the cervical spinal cord area, they are considered the most difficult spinal cord tumors to surgically treat because they are located in the area with the highest risk of disability. Tumors in the spinal meninges, tumors outside the spinal meninges, tumors in the vertebrae that invade and compress the spinal cord, and tumors from other organs that spread and affect the spinal cord are also included. Additionally, bone and spinal cord tumors can be malignant, meaning they can be cancerous like other types of cancer.
How to Recognize Symptoms That Indicate Risk of Bone and Spinal Cord Tumors
Since tumors in the bones and spinal cord can occur in various locations, the symptoms indicating the disease vary accordingly. Symptoms can be observed based on the tumor location as follows:
Tumors in the bones and spinal cord in the “neck” area
- Pain in the upper neck, radiating down one or both arms
- Numbness or weakness in the arm or hand, or in some cases, both numbness and weakness
- In severe cases, numbness and weakness may spread to the legs and may be accompanied by problems with bowel or bladder control
Tumors in the bones and spinal cord in the “chest” or “mid-torso” area
- Pain radiating along the ribs, feeling tight, uncomfortable, and constricting pain
- Numbness or tingling from the torso downward
- In severe cases, weakness and numbness in the legs, along with bowel or bladder problems
Tumors in the bones and spinal cord in the “lower back” area
- Lower back pain radiating down one or both legs
- Numbness and weakness in the legs
- In severe cases, bowel or bladder problems may also occur
Surgical Treatment for Bone and Spinal Cord Tumors
Because bone and spinal cord tumors are closely related to their location, diagnosis must be thorough and accurate to provide precise treatment. Doctors will order CT scans and MRIs to examine the structure of the spine and identify the exact location of the tumor in the spinal cord and surrounding tissues. Once identified, treatment will involve minimally invasive spine surgery using small incisions and endoscopic techniques to minimize damage to the bones, nervous system, and surrounding tissues. This approach helps patients recover faster and return to normal more quickly.
Important Information About Bone and Spinal Cord Tumors
- Generally, these tumors are not malignant, and surgery can completely cure the condition.
- The danger of this disease depends on the tumor location; tumors in the cervical area carry a higher risk of disability.
- If you experience suspicious back pain, you should see a doctor immediately without delay, as the severity of symptoms before treatment affects the treatment outcome. If symptoms progress to severe pain with weakness, numbness, or inability to move limbs before treatment, the chances of full recovery and walking again after surgery decrease.
- Minimally invasive endoscopic surgery is an effective method that reduces pain and minimizes damage to the spinal cord tissues around the affected area.
If you experience abnormal back pain, do not ignore it, because delayed diagnosis may result in permanent inability to walk.
