What is intramedullary spinal cord tumor?
Intramedullary masses of the spinal cord are located inside the substance of the cord and are less commonly encountered than masses in the other two compartments of the spine (intradural-extramedullary and extradural). Intramedullary masses usually expand the spinal cord parenchyma rather than displace it.
Which are the most common intramedullary tumors?
The most commonly encountered intramedullary spinal tumors are ependymomas, astrocytomas, and hemangioblastomas.. Collectively, spinal ependymomas and astrocytomas account for 80-90% of intramedullary spinal tumors, with ependymomas occurring roughly twice as frequently as astrocytomas.
What are three types of spinal cord tumors?
Spinal Tumors
- Intradural-extramedullary – The tumor is located inside the thin covering of the spinal cord (the dura), but outside the actual spinal cord.
- Intramedullary – These tumors grow inside the spinal cord.
- Extradural – The tumor is located outside the dura, which is the thin covering surrounding the spinal cord.
Which is the most malignant type of spinal cord tumor?
Chordoma: a malignant bone tumor that can develop inside the spinal column anywhere along its length, however it is most commonly seen in the sacrum (a bone in the base of the spine).
How serious is spinal cord tumors?
Spinal tumors or growths of any kind can lead to pain, neurological problems and sometimes paralysis. A spinal tumor can be life-threatening and cause permanent disability. Treatment for a spinal tumor may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or other medications.
Are all spinal tumors cancerous?
Spinal tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). If the tumor continues to grow, it can cause damage to different tissues in your spinal column. Tumors that first develop on your spine or spinal cord are called primary spinal tumors.
What is intradural extramedullary tumors?
Intradural-Extramedullary tumors grow within the spinal canal but outside of the nerves. These tumors are usually slow-growing and benign, but can cause some pain and weakness.
What is intramedullary spine surgery?
Intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs) are relatively infrequent lesions with ependymomas and astrocytomas representing the most common types. Microsurgical resection is established as the treatment of choice for these challenging lesions.