Types of Spine Tumors

A spine tumor is a mass formed by a growth of abnormal cells. Spine tumors can grow in the spinal cord tissue itself, the covering of the spinal cord (called the meninges), as well as the bone, cartilage and tissue in and around the spinal column.

Primary spinal tumors start in the spine, and most don’t spread outside of the nervous system. Physicians use the World Health Organization’s grading system to describe how serious a primary spine tumor is: grade I and grade II tumors are slow growing, while grade III and grade IV tumors are typically fast growing and aggressive.

At the University of Chicago Medicine Brain and Spine Tumor Center, we offer expert diagnosis and treatment of all types of spine tumors, including the rarest forms. Depending on the type of tumor, our team can suggest a personalized treatment plan using the most innovative therapies available.

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Types of Spinal Tumors

Gliomas

Gliomas are created by glial cells, which help make up the connective tissue of the brain. Gliomas can grow anywhere in the central nervous system and can affect your movements, speech, thoughts, emotion, balance or vision. Some gliomas are caused by genetic disorders. Exposure to radiation may also play a role in rare cases. Types of gliomas include:

• Astrocytomas that grow from the spinal cord are known as intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs). High-grade astrocytomas can be as aggressive as glioblastomas, but low-grade tumors grow more slowly.
• Ependymomas grow from cells that line the fluid-filled spaces (ventricles) in the spinal cord. Like astrocytomas, they are considered IMSCTs because they originate from the spinal cord.

Meningiomas

Meningiomas grow from the surface coverings of the spinal cord called the meninges. Although they are usually slow growing, they can compress spinal cord tissue, causing neurological problems, such as weakness.

Schwannomas

Schwannomas are tumors that grow out of nerve coverings in the spine. They can compress the spinal cord or nerves, leading to problems like pain or weakness in the arm or leg.

Chordomas

Chordomas are a rare form of bone cancer that occurs at the base of the skull and along the spine. They can disrupt your normal bone structure and press against the spinal cord and nerves.

Sarcomas

Spinal sarcomas are rare cancers that start in the connective tissue in the spine. They include:

• Osteosarcomas, which grow from bone
• Chondrosarcomas, which grow from cartilage
• Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, which grow from the peripheral nerve tissues in the spine

Some sarcomas are fast growing and spread to other parts of the body while others grow more slowly. An accurate classification is important to plan your treatment and give you the best chance for a favorable outcome.

Giant Cell Tumors

Giant cell tumors are rare tumors that are usually fast growing. They tend to occur in the lower spine and sacrum, which is located at the base of the spine.

Aneurysmal Bone Cysts (ABCs)

These bone tumors can develop in the spinal vertebrae. They can destroy bone in the spine and cause pain and fractures. Most ABCs affect children.

Langerhans cell granuloma

Granulomas are growths that can develop from a type of immune cell. People with a rare genetic disorder called Langerhans cell histiocytosis may develop granulomas in the bones, including their spine.

Hemangiomas

Spinal hemangiomas are some of the most common tumors of the spine. Hemangiomas are made up of blood vessels. Most do not cause symptoms, but some can compress the nerves and cause back pain or weakness in the limbs.

Osteoblastomas

Osteoblastomas are tumors that can grow in any type of bone but are most common in your spine. They often grow back after being removed with surgery.

Metastatic Spine Tumors

A metastatic spine tumor is cancer that has started elsewhere in the body but spread to the spine. Some of the more common cancers that spread to the spine include breast, lung and prostate cancers. Cancer can spread to the spine through your lymph system, bloodstream or nearby tissue. Some people develop leptomeningeal disease (LMD), a cancer that has spread to the cerebrospinal fluid from other parts of the body.

If you have metastatic spine tumors, we can help you determine the next step. Learn more about metastatic spine tumor conditions and treatments.