Spine Cancer Treatment and Surgery in New Jersey

A cancerous spine tumor can form in the bone, spinal cord, spinal nerves, soft tissues, or muscles of the spine. As a malignant tumor grows, it damages the healthy tissue around it and causes the normal tissues to become dysfunctional. Prompt medical treatment by a specialist is necessary to prevent the health consequences, including permanent paralysis and death

Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) features a team of specialists that includes neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, interventional pain management physicians, physiatrists, rehabilitation specialists, and certified physical therapists. Their unified efforts provide comprehensive care for patients throughout northern New Jersey. Learn more about CNSO’s approach to spine cancer treatment including when surgery is necessary to ensure the best outcomes for all patients.

What Is Spine Cancer?

A benign spine tumor is not cancerous and will not spread to other parts of the body. A malignant spine tumor can enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system and be transported to other parts of the body to form tumors there as well. Spine cancer is composed of malignant cells, that have characteristics similar to the tissue they initially started to grow within, but ultimately, are not capable of functioning in the healthy, normal manner of the tissues of origin. As these malfunctioning cells grow in number and size, they compress the surrounding normal cells, consume the blood supply, and the combination causes the normal cells to dysfunction and die. These malignant cells if not detected, will migrate to cause multiple malignant tumors within the same tissue or will migrate to cause tumors in other organs and tissues.

Spine cancer occurs when a malignant tumor forms in any structures that compose the spinal column. The spinal column is composed of several tissue types and bones. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that carry sensory and motor information between the brain and other parts of the body. The spine is a column of bones, called vertebrae, interconnected by joints, that allow movement of the neck and back while protecting the spinal cord within., Spine tumors can be classified as primary or secondary spinal tumors. Primary tumors are those that originate in the spine. They come in several types based on what spinal tissue the tumor forms in:

• Chondrosarcoma: This is a type of bone cancer that forms in cartilage.
• Chordoma: This is a type of bone cancer that commonly occurs in the sacrum, or tailbone.
• Ewing sarcoma: This type of bone cancer affects both the bone and surrounding soft tissue.
• Osteosarcoma: This is a type of bone cancer that forms in osteoblasts, the cells responsible for generating new bone tissue.
• Neurofibroma: This is a benign tumor that grows on spinal cord nerves.
• Schwannoma: This tumor develops in the protective sheaths surrounding nerve fibers.
• Astrocytoma: This is a tumor that forms in astrocytes, the supporting cells inside the spinal cord.
• Meningioma: This occurs when a tumor forms in the tissue that covers the spinal cord, called meninges.
• Glioblastoma: This tumor develops in astrocytes and is highly aggressive.
• Ependymoma: This refers to a tumor that develops in the lining of spinal fluid passageways.
• Lymphoma: Also called non-Hodgkin lymphoma, this type of cancer affects lymphocytes, which are cells in the immune system.
• Multiple myeloma: This is a type of blood cancer that affects blood plasma.
• Hemangioblastoma: This tumor forms from blood vessels connected to the nervous system.

Secondary spinal tumors are more common. These are tumors that originate elsewhere in the body and have metastasized or spread to the spine. The most common origins for secondary spinal tumors include the lungs, breasts, blood, skin, connective tissue, or lymphatic system.

What Are Spine Cancer Symptoms?

Most spinal tumors are benign, meaning they are non-cancerous. Even minor tumors, however, can create serious issues – and malignant or cancerous tumors are worse. As they grow, tumors put pressure on spinal nerves. This causes compression and damage to otherwise healthy tissue. Patients may experience severe symptoms, such as:

• Pain: Back pain is the most common symptom. This pain gradually increases over time, gets worse with strain, is persistent at night, and may not respond to pain medications.
• Numbness: As the tumor compresses nerves, the patient may experience tingling sensations, numbness, or loss of sensation in their arms, legs, or chest.
• Muscle twitches: Spinal nerve compression can affect motor control as well. This results in muscle spasms or twitching which may interfere with coordination.
• Muscle weakness: Patients with spine cancer may also experience muscle weakness in their arms, legs, or chest, that is not related to another health condition or injury.
• Difficulty walking: Limb numbness, weakness, and muscle twitching can make it difficult to walk normally. This difficulty sometimes leads to falls and similar accidents.
• Incontinence: Depending on where the spine cancer is located, the patient may experience loss of bladder or bowel control leading to incontinence.
• Paralysis: Severe spine cancer may cause varying degrees of partial or complete paralysis in different parts of the body, including the arms or legs.
• Spinal deformity: Deformities like scoliosis and kyphosis are sometimes signs of very advanced or destructive spine cancer, especially one that forms in the bone.

Many of these symptoms can be caused by conditions other than spine cancer. However, they are always indicators of a serious spine condition and should not be ignored. Individuals experiencing symptoms like these should seek a specialist diagnosis to begin planning appropriate treatment.

Causes and Risk Factors for Spinal Cancer

DNA is a specialized protein structure that encodes instructions for replication. In a healthy cell, replication occurs at a consistent rate to replace dead cells. The new cells are typically identical to the cells they came from and fulfill the same functions.

Tumors occur because of sudden changes in cell DNA. The new instructions halt normal cell function. At the same time, the cells start to multiply much faster than normal. New cells are created faster than old ones can die, creating a growth that does not stop expanding. If the tumor is cancerous, the faulty instructions can also spread into nearby tissues for even more aggressive expansion.

The exact cause of cancer, including spine cancer, is not fully understood by scientists. It is most common in older adults, and more common in men than in women. Individuals with a history of cancer are more likely to develop spine cancer, as are those with a compromised immune system. Exposure to radiation and some industrial chemicals has also been linked to cancer occurrence.

How Is Spine Cancer Diagnosed?

When patients visit CNSO for diagnosis, the team of neurosurgeons and spine specialists begin by reviewing the patient’s medical history and overall health. They then perform a series of diagnostic tests that can help identify the tumor. The following are common diagnostic tests for spinal cancer:

• Neurological exam: A neurological exam is a kind of physical exam that tests a patient’s senses and motor skills. The physician instructs the patient to perform a range of tasks to determine whether vision, hearing, balance, or coordination have been affected by nerve damage.
• Imaging tests: Advanced medical imaging technology is often used to locate a spinal tumor. X-rays are commonly used, sometimes with the help of a contrast dye. Other types of imaging tests include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) scans.
• Lumbar puncture: Also called a spinal tap, this procedure involves using a needle to take a sample of cerebrospinal fluid. This sample is taken to a lab to be examined for indicators of cancer and to determine whether cancer cells will respond to various treatments.

In addition to diagnosing spine cancer, these tests also help determine its grade. Cancer is graded on a scale from I to IV based on the tumor’s size, aggression, and whether it has spread to other tissue. This grading informs the CNSO care team in developing a treatment plan.

Spine Cancer Surgery at CNSO

The goal of spine cancer treatment is to remove the whole tumor, if possible. While the most common method is surgery, this may be complicated by the risk of damage to the spinal cord and nearby nerves. The highly skilled neurosurgeons at CNSO always consider whether an evidence-driven, minimally invasive treatment will provide positive results. CNSO specialists take a conservative approach to pain management and treatment throughout the patient journey, using major surgery techniques only when necessary.

Spine surgery at CNSO is performed using advanced instruments, allowing neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons to perform the procedure with greater safety and accuracy. Surgeons begin by making an incision on the front, side, or back of the body to expose the spine. They may then perform a decompression treatment, removing part of the vertebrae or disc to access the tumor. All or most of the tumor is then removed. High-frequency sound waves are sometimes used to break down the tumor for easier removal. Afterward, new bone grafts may replace material that was removed or damaged by the tumor.

Recovery periods after surgery depend on the access point used. Typically, it takes several weeks or longer. Once the surgical site has healed, physical therapy is often recommended to help the patient rebuild strength, flexibility, and function in their back. Rehabilitation medicine may also be used for patients who must relearn how to live with a long-term impairment.

Other Treatments for Spine Cancer

Even with the latest advances in surgery technology, some spine tumors cannot be removed completely. In this case, surgery may be followed by other treatments to eliminate any cancer cells that are left. The following treatment types may be used alone or in tandem for best results.

Radiation Therapy

When receiving radiation therapy, the patient lies down on a table. Protective clothing or pads may be used to reduce exposure. The radiologist aims a powerful X-ray or photon beam at the tumor, breaking down cancer cells while causing minimal harm to surrounding healthy tissue.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is another method of destroying cancer cells. This approach uses strong medicines, which are taken as a pill or administered with an injection. The medicine destroys cancer cells in the spine and elsewhere in the body, making it an effective solution to metastasizing cancer.

Corticosteroids

Spine cancer, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy may all cause inflammation in the spine, resulting in pain and stiffness. CNSO pain management specialists can administer corticosteroid injections to reduce swelling and relieve discomfort while minimizing the patient’s entire body to the effects of the steroids. While this treatment will not address cancer directly, it may help the patient manage symptoms and stay comfortable while undergoing treatment.

Monitoring

At different stages of treatment, CNSO doctors may request imaging exams and other tests to monitor the cancer. By keeping a close eye on tumors, cancer specialists can evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. They can also detect new growth sooner and change plans accordingly.

Eliminate Spine Cancer at NJ’s Comprehensive Spine Tumor and Brain Tumor Center

The dedicated surgical and non-surgical team at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) understands how spine cancer can impact a person’s quality of life and sense of well-being. Offering expert care at all stages from diagnosis to surgery, CNSO patients receive comprehensive and coordinated treatment for spine cancer. CNSO offers multiple convenient locations spanning across Northern New Jersey, including Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Morris, and Hudson counties. To learn more about spine cancer treatments and surgery, contact the doctors at CNSO today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spine Cancer Surgery

What is spine cancer?

Spine cancer is a rapidly growing malignant tumor in the spine. It can originate from a variety of spine tissues, including blood, bone, and nerve cells. It may also have metastasized or spread into the spine from its origin elsewhere in the body.

What causes spine cancer?

Cancer is caused by sudden changes in cell DNA that cause cells to rapidly reproduce. Scientists do not yet know why this change occurs, though it may be affected by age, genetic factors, immune system disorders, or exposure to radiation or industrial chemicals.

Who is most at risk of spine cancer?

Spine cancer can develop in individuals of all ages and backgrounds. However, it is most common in older adults and is more common in men than in women.

What are the symptoms of spine cancer?

Symptoms of spine cancer depend on the tumor’s size, location, and what nerves it presses against. The most common sign is a deep, aching pain that gets worse with exertion and may not respond to conservative pain relief methods. Patients may also experience:

• Tingling or numbness in the arms, chest, or back
• Muscle weakness in the arms, chest, or back
• Muscle spasms or twitches
• Difficulty walking
• Incontinence
• Changes in bowel movements
• Partial or full paralysis in parts of the body
• Spinal deformities

Is surgery always the treatment for spine cancer?

Surgery is typically the recommended treatment for spine cancer. Depending on the tumor’s size and location, however, it may not be possible to remove the whole tumor. Some patients’ health conditions may also make surgery inadvisable. In these cases, radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be used after or instead of surgery to make sure all cancer cells are removed.