What are spine tumors?
A primary spine tumor begins in the spinal column itself, in the bone, the disc, or the tissues surrounding the spinal cord. These are uncommon, and they span a wide range from benign lesions that may never need treatment to aggressive tumors requiring coordinated care. Tumors that have spread to the spine from cancer elsewhere are a separate category, covered under metastatic spine disease.
Symptoms
- Back or neck pain that is constant, unrelated to activity, and does not ease with rest
- Pain that is worse at night, often waking you
- New weakness, numbness, or clumsiness in the arms or legs
- Changes in walking or balance
- Unexplained weight loss, fever, or night sweats
Urgent
Seek urgent medical care for rapidly worsening weakness, numbness in the saddle area, or any change in bowel or bladder control. Cord compression is treated urgently regardless of the cause.
How it is diagnosed
MRI with contrast is the primary study, showing the lesion and its relationship to the cord and nerves. CT adds detail about the bone and about stability. Depending on the appearance, a biopsy may be needed to establish the diagnosis before treatment is planned, sequencing matters here, because operating before the tissue type is known can compromise later treatment.
How treatment is planned
Care is multidisciplinary. Medical and radiation oncology, and often pathology, are involved alongside spine surgery. The plan depends on the tumor type, its location, whether the spine is structurally sound, and whether neural structures are compressed. For many tumors the spine surgeon's role is stabilization and decompression rather than removing the tumor outright.
Dr. Adapa's role
Dr. Adapa evaluates whether the spine is stable, whether the cord or nerves are at risk, and what surgical support the overall oncological plan requires. He will explain what the imaging shows and coordinate with the rest of your care team. If your situation is better served by another specialist, he will help direct you there.