Spine Tumor Symptoms and Treatment Options in India

A spinal tumor is distinguished by abnormal cell growth within and around the spinal cord. The tumor can develop in any part of the spine, including the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions. The tumor could have originated in the spinal cord, vertebrae, spinal roots, or dural sac.

The tumor in the spine can sometimes have its origins in other parts of the body. It is referred to as a malignant tumor in such cases. The surgical removal of a spine tumor is performed on patients whose cancer can be completely removed or who are expected to experience relief from tumor-related symptoms.

Spinal tumor treatment in India is available to patients who have persistent neck pain or pain caused by the presence of a benign or malignant tumor in the spine. Spine surgery in India aims to completely or partially remove the tumor in the back.

The cost of spine tumor surgery in India is less than two-thirds of what it does in Western countries, particularly the United Kingdom and the United States. Even when all other expenses such as boarding, accomodation, and local travel are factored in, the cost of spinal surgery remains low.

The spinal cord is referred to as our body's "backbone." We can't even begin to imagine our lives if we can't even stand on our own two feet. Let's learn more about spine tumors…!

What do you mean by term “Spine Tumor”?

A spinal tumor is an abnormal mass of cells that grows within or around your spinal cord and/or spinal column.

The spine (backbone) is a long, flexible bone column that protects your spinal cord. It runs from the base of your skull to your tailbone, which is part of your pelvis.

The spinal cord is a cylindrical structure that runs through the centre of your spine, from your brainstem to your low back. It is made up of nerve bundles and cells that carry messages from your brain to the rest of your body as well as from your body to your brain.

Spinal tumors can be found in the following places:

• Within your spinal cord (intramedullary).
• In the tissues that cover your spinal cord (meninges) (intradural-extramedullary).
• Between your spine's meninges and bones (extradural).
• In your spine's bony vertebrae.
• Spinal tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). If the tumor grows, it can cause damage to various tissues in your spinal column.

Primary spinal tumors are cancer cells that develop first on your spine or spinal cord. Secondary spinal tumors develop when cancer spreads from another part of your body to your spine. Primary spinal tumors are far less common than metastatic spinal tumors.

Specific Types of Spinal Tumors

Because your spinal column is a complex structure made up of various types of cells and tissues, there are various types of spinal tumours, some of which include:

• Spinal hemangioma
• Schwannoma
• Osteosarcoma
• Neurofibroma
• Meningioma
• Hemnagioblastoma
• Glioblastoma
• Ependymoma
• Chordoma
• Astrocytoma

Cancers that start somewhere else in your body and spread (metastasize) to your spine include:

• Lung Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Multiple Myeloma
• Sarcoma
• Kidney Cancer 
• Thyroid Cancer

These cancers frequently metastasize (spread) to the bony portion of your spinal column.

Signs and Symptoms of Spine Tumors

Several factors influence the symptoms of spinal tumors, including:

• The location of the tumor in and along your spinal column.
• The size of the tumor.
• What kind of tumor is it?

Some spinal tumors do not cause symptoms because they are too small to press on and irritate nearby tissues. However, as a tumour grows, it can cause symptoms, particularly pain. The most common symptom of both benign (noncancerous) and malignant (cancerous) spinal tumors is back pain. Because tumors are more likely to develop in those areas of your spine, pain from spinal tumors in your middle or lower back is more common.

Other symptoms of a spinal tumor

Other signs and symptoms, in addition to pain, may develop depending on the location and type of spinal tumor. This usually occurs when the tumour grows and presses on your spinal cord, nerve roots, blood vessels, or spine bones.

Other signs of a spinal tumor include:

• Numbness, tingling, or sensation loss in your legs, arms, or chest.
• You may experience muscle weakness in your legs, arms, or chest.
• Muscle twitching or spasming
• Back or neck stiffness
• Bowel and/or bladder control problems (bowel incontinence and urinary incontinence).
• Difficulty walking, which may result in a fall.
• Scoliosis or another type of spinal deformity caused by a large and/or destructive tumor.
• Depending on which nerves the tumor is compressing, paralysis may occur to varying degrees and in different parts of your body.

How are Spinal Tumor Diagnosed?

Because primary spinal tumors frequently have no symptoms (asymptomatic), they are frequently discovered incidentally (accidentally) when a person undergoes an imaging test for another reason.People with symptomatic spinal tumors frequently believe that their back pain is the result of a recent or suspected injury. If you have back pain, it is critical that you see your doctor, especially if you have cancer. Your symptoms and medical history will be discussed with your healthcare provider. They will also conduct a neurological exam to look for the following symptoms:

• Tenderness in your spine.
• Loss of pain and/or temperature sensation
• Reactions that are abnormal.
• Muscle weakness

Your doctor will also order tests to confirm or rule out a spine tumor diagnosis. In addition to a physical and neurological exam, your doctor may order the following tests to confirm the presence of a spinal tumor:

• Imaging tests like, CT Scan, MRI,and Spine X-rays
• Biopsy
• Bone Scan
• Blood Tests

Treatment of Spinal Tumor in India

The treatment plan for a spinal tumor patient is determined by several factors, including the results of diagnostic tests, the patient's overall health, and the severity of the symptoms. Spinal tumor surgeons in India collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of specialists to create a personalised treatment plan for each patient.

Most symptomatic spinal cord tumors should be surgically removed. The surgery is usually done to remove the tumour. Based on the type of tumour and the outcome of the surgery, additional treatment with radiation or chemotherapy may be recommended. Many factors, including the overall Spine Tumor Surgery Cost in India and the duration of recovery, are influenced by the type of surgery used for treatment.

One of the following surgical treatment options may be included in the treatment plan:

• Posterolateral resection: This procedure involves the removal of spine tumors and the reinforcement of the spine via an incision in the middle of the back made by the surgeon. This method has the advantage of reducing complications and recovery time. This allows a person to heal faster and receive radiation therapy or other treatments sooner.
• En bloc resection: The tumor is removed as a single piece by the surgeon during this surgery. This resection is most commonly used to remove primary tumors completely, such as giant cell tumors, chordomas, and low-grade chondrosarcomas. These tumors are found in the spine's bones or near the spine.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Spinal Tumor Treatment in India

When it comes to the treatment of spinal tumors, the majority of surgeons now prefer minimally invasive surgery. In comparison to traditional open surgery, this procedure requires only a small incision. As a result of the minimal tissue disruption, these procedures are sometimes performed as outpatient procedures.

The two most common minimally invasive surgical procedures for treating cracked or collapsed vertebrae, one of the most common complications of spinal tumors, are as follows:

• Kyphoplasty
• Vertebroplasty

Open surgery for Spinal Tumor Treatment in India

Only patients with slow-growing metastatic spinal tumors and those with only one spinal tumor should undergo open surgery.

• Spinal Stabilization Surgery: This procedure is done to stabilise the spine by reducing any deformity that may have developed as a result of the tumor. Prior to surgery, the patient is given general anesthesia.
• Spinal Decompression Surgery: Spinal decompression surgery relieves spinal nerve compression caused by the presence of a tumor. The doctor can perform the spinal decompression surgery using any of the following methods. The approach chosen is determined by the patient's overall condition:
• Corpectomy
• Laminectomy
• Costotrasversectomy

Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)

It is a radiation treatment rather than a surgical procedure. To treat both benign and malignant spinal tumors, the cancer specialists use stereotactic radiosurgeryin India, which involves treatment with highly targeted radiation beams from multiple angles converging together. It is a highly accurate and minimally invasive technique that causes less damage to the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor. In comparison to open surgery, the procedure has many advantages, including less post-operative discomfort, faster recovery, and a very low risk of infection or complications. Spinal tumor treatment in India is provided using the most advanced SRS equipment, such as the CyberKnife, proton beams, and linear accelerators.

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