Spine and Nerve Tumor Treatment by Our Top-Rated Team of Specialists in New Jersey
Though back pain is often the result of musculoskeletal conditions, it may seldom stem from tumors in the spine or peripheral nerves. With a commitment to providing compassionate, personalized care that provides patients with the maximum benefit, Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics utilizes a collaborative approach to care, involving specialists such as neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, and more, to identify spinal and nerve tumors, address their symptoms, and help patients restore their quality of life.
Types of Nerve and Spinal Tumors
When tumors form in the spine or peripheral nerves, they can cause a wide range of debilitating symptoms. In other cases, patients experience no symptoms at all and only learn of a tumor due to screenings or preventative care. Further, these tumors are categorized as extradural (epidural), intradural, or intramedullary, depending on their location. While not all tumors affecting the nerves and spine are malignant, they should all be evaluated by a neurologist. Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics regularly diagnoses, treats, and removes a variety of nerve and spine tumors, including:- Meningioma: A meningioma forms beneath the spine’s protective linings.
- Hemangioma: This type appears as a birthmark in the first 12 months of life and can grow on the back.
- Osteosarcoma: The most common malignant spinal tumor, osteosarcomas affect the bones and discs of the spine.
- Ewing sarcoma: This rare tumor type develops in the soft tissues of surrounding skeletal bones, as well as the bones themselves.
- Chordoma: This slow-growing cancer affects spinal tissues anywhere along the spine.
- Chondrosarcoma: This type develops in the spine’s cartilage cells.
- Multiple myeloma: Tumors occur in plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell found within the bone marrow.
- Osteoblastoma: Extremely rare, this tumor type develops most commonly in lower spinal vertebrae or longer bones in the lower extremities.
- Osteochondroma: This is the overgrowth of cartilage and bone occurring near growth plates, most commonly affecting the pelvis region. It is generally non-cancerous (benign).
- Giant cell tumor (GCT): GCTs are a type of bone tumor that can develop anywhere along the spine.
- Ependymoma and subependymoma: These types of slow-growing brain tumors affect the central nervous system, growing near the brain and spinal cord’s ventricles.
- Nerve sheath tumors: These tumors grow within the connective tissue and layer of myelin surrounding nerve fibers, which is known as the nerve sheath.
- Schwannoma: Sometimes called neuromas, these hereditary tumors emerge from the sheath of the Schwann cells inside the lining of nerves.
- Neurofibroma: These affect the peripheral nerves that link our nervous system to the rest of the body.
- Astrocytoma of the spine: A low-grade tumor, astrocytoma creates star-shaped cancer cells inside small sections of the spinal cord.
- Hemangioblastoma lymphoma: Forming in the lining of a blood vessel, these noncancerous tumors can affect the spinal cord, brain, or retina.
Often spinal tumors are accompanied by serious symptoms such as weight loss, fever, vomiting, nausea, and fluctuation in body temperature alluding to chills.
Nerve and Spinal Tumor Symptoms
As noted above, many spine and nerve tumors do not cause symptoms. If you are aware of a family history of these conditions, regular consultations with a neurologist can help you stay aware of any abnormal growths. When symptoms are present, they may include:
- Weight loss
- Fevers
- Chills and fluctuating body temperature
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Pain
- Sensory loss
- Weak motor function
- Paralysis
- Muscle weakness
- Tingling
- Numbness
- And more…
Diagnosis and Treatment
The neurosurgeons at our Northern NJ locations rely on advanced technology to identify the complex causes of underlying pain, loss of mobility, and other symptoms. Through a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach, our team of experts utilizes their extensive training and understanding of how symptoms, anatomy, and biomechanics correlate to accomplish the following:
- Isolating the cause of your symptoms
- Determining whether tumors are present, and if so, what type they are
- Reviewing medical histories and prior imaging tests and treatment attempts
- Personalizing the most effective treatment plan that prevents patients from relying on pain medications
Medical imaging, such as spinal X-rays, computerized tomography (CT) scans, and medical resonance imaging (MRI), helps our physicians locate tumors and determine their size. Once a tumor is identified, a biopsy will be performed to collect a small tissue sample. These cells are analyzed to determine the tumor’s stage, grade, and whether it is malignant or benign.
Our practice believes in utilizing the most conservative treatment methods possible, including non-invasive pain management modalities, strength training, muscle relaxation, and physical therapy. When it comes to certain spinal or nerve tumors, surgery may be required, especially if there are structural changes to the patient’s spine or brain. Your neurosurgeon will explain your condition and all available treatments, including:
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Radiation
- Chemotherapy
- And more…
Learn More about Spine and Nerve Tumors
At Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics, our team of neurosurgeons and physical therapists offer personalized, compassionate care for every patient experiencing pain, mobility issues, and other challenges. If you’ve experienced symptoms associated with spine and nerve tumors, schedule an appointment at one of our Northern NJ locations today. We’ll provide an accurate diagnosis and effective path forward, giving each patient peace of mind and confidence that they are receiving the best possible treatment.
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