Treatment Specialists
These specialists provide diagnosis and treatment for spinal tumors:
Jacob Buchowski, M.D., M.S., Director, Center for Spinal Tumors
Keith Bridwell, M.D.
Scott Luhmann, M.D., M.S.
Douglas Joel McDonald, M.D., M.S.
For an appointment, call: 314-514-3500
What Are Spinal Tumors?
Spinal tumors can be broadly classified into two categories - metastatic tumors and primary tumors. Metastatic spinal tumors originate somewhere else in the body (for example, the breast, lung, prostate, or kidney) and spread to the spine where they can cause fractures and/or compression of the spinal cord or nerves.
Despite advancements in cancer care, metastatic spine disease is very common: of the 1.2 million new cancer cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year, between 10 and 30% will have symptomatic spinal metastases at the time of presentation. The types of cancer that are most likely to result in spinal metastases include breast cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, and thyroid cancer.
Unlike metastatic spinal tumors, primary spinal tumors originate within the spine. They are quite rare and account for only 0.04% of all tumors and 10% of all bone tumors. Primary spinal tumors can either be benign or malignant.
Some of the benign primary spinal tumors include:
osteochondroma osteoid osteoma osteoblastoma aneurysmal bone cyst giant cell tumor eosinophilic granuloma
Some of the malignant primary spinal tumors include: multiple myeloma/solitary plasmacytoma osteosarcoma chondrosarcoma Ewing’s sarcoma/PNET chordoma lymphoma
Although many metastatic spinal tumors can be treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy, some metastatic spinal tumors require surgical treatment. Similarly, although most malignant primary spinal tumors will require surgery, many benign tumors can be treated nonoperatively.