Spinal tumors can form in your spinal cord and related soft tissues of the central nervous system. They can also form in the bones that make up your spine. These bone tumors may be noncancerous or cancerous. In some cases, they can also be a sign that cancer from another part of the body has spread.
Primary spinal tumors are rare and affect children and young adults. A primary bone cancer is one that starts in your vertebrae and has not spread from somewhere else in your body. Benign osseous tumors include:
- Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC): Although benign (noncancerous), these cysts can destroy the bone and make it prone to fracture. ABCs are most likely to form at the end of long bones near the growth plate but are also common in vertebrae.
- Giant cell tumor (GCT): These tumors are usually found at the end of the long bones of the legs, but they also appear where the spine meets the pelvis. Without treatment, they can destroy bones and cause disability. In rare cases, GCT can become malignant.
- Osteoblastoma: Rare and slow growing, these tumors destroy affected bones and replace them with weaker bone material. It can be locally aggressive and lead to fractures.
- Osteoid osteoma: These small tumors create abnormal bone, but they do not spread and often go away on their own. They are most common in the legs, but they are also common in the spine and hands.
There are several types of malignant osseous tumors. Only 5% of these types of tumors will begin in the spine.
Chondrosarcoma: A tumor that forms in the cartilage cells of your vertebrae or other bones, chondrosarcoma is a common type of primary bone cancer.
Chordoma: A very slow-growing rare tumor that is most likely to grow at the base of the spine or the skull, chordomas might not cause symptoms for years and can be hard to treat.
Ewing’s sarcoma: The second-most common pediatric bone cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma can develop in bone or soft tissue and is often aggressive.
Osteosarcoma: The most common type of pediatric bone cancer, osteosarcoma can also affect older adults. Osteosarcoma is aggressive and can weaken your bones.
Around 70% of all spinal tumors are metastatic tumors in the spinal bones, or vertebral metastases.
There are many other types of rare spinal tumors, both cancerous and noncancerous. Spinal osseous tumors can also be signs of more common cancers, such as multiple myeloma or lymphoma.
Our team at your side
Comprehensive care for spinal tumors requires a variety of specialists. The UK HealthCare Comprehensive Spine Center makes this process simple by bringing together a team tailored to your unique condition.
Within one comprehensive program, you have access to all our specialties: physical medicine and rehabilitation, interventional pain medicine, orthopaedic surgery, and neurosurgery. You will be evaluated at your first visit to determine the best treatment path for your specific needs.
Symptoms of osseous tumors can vary depending on the type of tumor you have, how large it has grown and where on the spine it is located. Some tumors might have no symptoms. In general, aching back pain that does not get better with rest or that gets worse over time is a common symptom of a spinal bone tumor. Your pain might be worse at night or wake you up from sleep.
Other symptoms include:
- Bone pain
- Decreased range of motion
- Difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels
- Muscle spasms
- Numbness
- Stiffness
- Weakness in the arms or legs
- Visible mass or swelling at the tumor site
In some patients with aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs), a fractured bone might be the first symptom of the condition.
There are no known causes of primary bone cancers. Risk factors include:
- Being Black or Hispanic (osteosarcoma)
- Being female (ABC and GCT)
- Being male (osteoblastoma and osteosarcoma)
- Family history of the disease (chordoma)
- Having certain genetic conditions (chondrosarcoma and osteosarcoma)
- Having other benign bone tumors
Many benign osseous tumors develop in people under 40. Osteosarcoma affects both people under 30 and over 60. Chordoma usually affects people 40 to 60, and chondrosarcoma affects people over 50.
Patients with vertebral metastases are more likely to be over 40. Other risk factors for metastatic spinal tumors may include:
- Being male
- Having a diagnosis of breast, lung or prostate cancer
Several other types of cancers spread to the spine, including kidney cancer, thyroid cancer, lymphoma, melanoma and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.
Your journey to better spine health begins at home. Before you visit UK HealthCare for spine pain, we review your medical records. We may contact you with follow-up questions. We then discuss your case as a team. Based on these conversations, we determine which specialists will best meet your needs.
Next, we schedule your appointment. To provide you with the best care possible, you may need to meet with multiple providers. This helps us meet all your care needs in a timely manner.
During your first visit, we answer questions and provide information to help you better understand your condition. We also work to find out what is causing your symptoms and develop a treatment plan.
In most cases, we start with non-surgical treatment, such as lifestyle changes and physical therapy. Spine issues that don’t improve with this approach may require other treatment, including pain management and surgical intervention.
When coming to your first appointment, plan to do the following:
- Arrive early. You may need to fill out paperwork when you arrive. Getting to your appointment early gives you time to complete paperwork without feeling rushed.
- Bring a current list of medicines or supplements you take. You should also list any surgeries you’ve had, symptoms you’ve experienced and other past health issues.
- Dress comfortably. Working toward a diagnosis takes time. Comfortable clothes help you stay relaxed and attentive throughout your visit. They also make it easier to perform your physical exam.
- Eat and drink as directed. You may need to have imaging or other tests during your first visit. If you need to adjust your eating, drinking or medicines before a test, a team member will call to explain what you need to do leading up to your visit.
- Have your insurance information on hand. UK HealthCare accepts most insurers, and financial assistance is available.
- Bring a family member or friend with you. This person can help take notes and ask questions you may not think of asking.
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