Spinal Tumours

Spinal tumours arise from a wide spectrum of different tissues. Primary spinal tumours originate from the spinal cord or the vertebral segment. Metastatic tumours of the spine are secondary tumours of the spine that metastasise to or reach these spinal regions from a distant area. Intramedullary neoplasms arise from glial and support cells in the spinal cord; extramedullary neoplasms originate from peripheral nerve roots. Between 4% and 16% of all adult central nervous system (CNS) tumours are primary neoplasms of the spinal cord. Dumbbell tumours are tumours that may be located in various compartments. Intradural–intramedullary neoplasms and dumbbell neoplasms make up 18% and 22%, respectively, of all primary spinal cord neoplasms; intradural–extramedullary tumours account for 54% of all such neoplasms. Meningioma and schwannoma are the most common intradural–extramedullary spinal tumours. Glioma, ependymoma, cavernoma, and haemangioblastoma are frequent intramedullary tumours. Clinical features include pain, weakness (paresis/paralysis), and sphincter dysfunction. Contrast MRI and CT scan of the spine are the right imaging modalities in most cases. Microsurgical treatment is the definitive treatment. This chapter briefly discusses the management of common and rare spinal tumours, including meningioma, schwannoma, astrocytoma, ependymoma, dumbbell tumours, and metastatic tumours.