Spinal tumors can involve the neck, back and lower back. They can begin in several different types of cells, including nerve cells in the spinal cord, soft tissues or muscles that support the spine, and bones that make up the spinal column.
One person in 100,000, or about 10,000 people a year, in the United States develop spinal tumors. Between 15% and 20% of central nervous system (brain and spine) tumors occur in the spine.
Tumors that begin in the spine are known as primary spinal tumors. A tumor that has spread from another part of the body to the spine is known as a metastatic tumor.
Spinal tumors can be dangerous even if they are not cancer. As they develop and grow they can cause serious problems by pressing against crucial parts of the spine.
Spinal Anatomy
The spine is made up of bones, muscles and ligaments. They work together to provide structural support to the body and protect nerves that control important body functions, as well as sensation and movement.
Vertebrae are the bones of the spine that are stacked one on top of another beginning at the base of the brain. Around and between the vertebrae are nerves, joints, muscles and cartilage. Five vertebrae joined together in the lower back are called the sacrum. The tailbone (coccyx) includes the bottom three vertebrae.
The inner part of the spine is called the spinal cord. It has:
- Blood vessels
- Nerve cells
- Glial cells that help the brain function
Three layers of tissue (meninges) protect the outside of the spinal cord. They are called the:
- Pia mater, the inner layer
- Arachnoid, the middle layer
- Dura mater, the outer layer
Spinal Tumor Types
Spinal tumors are classified by the types of cells within the tumor. Each type of spinal tumor grows and is treated in a different way.
Intramedullary spinal tumors are within the spinal cord. These include:
- Astrocytomas
- Ependymomas
- Hemangioblastomas
Intradural extramedullary spinal tumors are within the spinal cord covering (dura) but outside the spinal cord. These include:
- Meningiomas
- Neurofibromas
- Schwannomas
Extradural spinal tumors (vertebral column tumors) usually involve cartilage and bone. They may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).
Benign
- Osteoblastoma
- Enchondromas
- Aneurysmal bone cysts
- Giant cell tumors
- Hangiomas
- Eosinophilic granulomas
Malignant
- Osteosarcoma
- Chordoma
- Chondrosarcoma
- Ewing’s sarcoma
- Plasmacytoma
The most common places of origin for cancers that spread to the spine are:
- Lungs
- Breasts
- Prostate
- Kidneys
- Thyroid
Lymphomas (a tumor of the blood system) also may spread to the spine and compress the spinal cord.
Spinal Tumor Risk Factors
Anything that increases your chance of getting a spinal tumor is a risk factor. Little is known about what causes spinal tumors. It is known that certain disorders that run in families may increase your risk of brain tumors or spinal tumors. These include:
- Neurofibromatosis type 2
- Von Hippel-Lindau disease
- Immune system disorders may play a part in spinal cord lymphomas
Not everyone with risk factors gets spinal tumors. However, if you have risk factors, it’s a good idea to discuss them with your health care provider.
Research shows that many cancers can be prevented.
Learn more about spinal tumors:
In rare cases, spinal tumors can be passed down from one generation to the next. Genetic counseling may be right for you. Visit our genetic testing page to learn more.
Metastatic breast and spine cancer survivor: ‘I’m living into the cure’
“I have an illness, not a terminal diagnosis,” says Lisa Ordmandy. Despite her metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, Lisa remains optimistic. Her motto is “Live into the cure.”
Lisa, now 66, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. Following treatment at another hospital, her doctors said she wouldn’t have a recurrence.
But a few years later, Lisa tripped on her stationary bicycle and fell. “I call it my bicycle accident – it’s so much cooler than what happened,” she laughs. “As I was falling, I caught myself, but I heard a ‘crunch’ sound. I later found out that my C2 vertebra had fractured.”
Lisa sat down to compose herself. “The pain started, but I could still feel everything,” she recalls. She later learned that most people who fracture that spinal bone do not survive; of those who do, most become paralyzed. “I am forever grateful to be in that tiny percentage that could walk away with no damage,” she says.
Her husband drove her to the ER. Still, even though she could walk, she was in severe pain. At a local hospital, doctors identified the fracture and believed it was caused by a recurrence of her breast cancer. This time, the cancer had settled in her vertebra. “That’s when my metastatic journey began,” says Lisa.
MD Anderson was the only choice for metastatic breast and spine cancer treatment
When Lisa found out the cancer had returned, she was determined to go to MD Anderson. “Once I had a recurrence, and it was metastatic, I wanted to be at MD Anderson for sure,” she emphasizes. Why? “Because they’re the top-rated cancer facility in the United States. They say it matters where you go first; I went there first.”
Lisa met with Claudio Tatsui, M.D., a neurosurgeon who specializes in spinal procedures. He suggested waiting on surgery. Lisa began taking palbociclib, a targeted therapy used to treat breast cancer. Under the care of breast medical oncologist Sausan Abouharb, M.D., Lisa remained stable for five years and lived a normal life.
In 2020, Lisa was hiking when she tripped and fell. “I noticed after that I had a little hip problem,” she recalls. An MRI revealed a collapsed L3 vertebra. “Dr. Tatsui said it was stable, and we continued to watch it.”
But after another fall in late 2023, things got worse. “My leg collapsed, and I landed splat on the sidewalk. So I thought, ‘Something is really wrong here,’” she recalls. An X-ray at MD Anderson revealed a hairline fracture; doctors thought it would heal on its own.
But the pain kept increasing. “It got to the point where I was crawling to the toilet, weeping. This was amazing pain,” remembers Lisa.
She knew something wasn’t right, so she reached out to Tatsui and Abouharb. They advised her to come to MD Anderson’s Acute Cancer Care Center immediately, where doctors found that her spine was fractured at the L3 vertebra.
Surgery preserves ability to walk
“Dr. Tatsui immediately put me in the hospital. He was very cautious and protective, which I really appreciate,” recalls Lisa. Tatsui operated on her spine in November 2023.
He explained exactly what condition her spine was in to ensure she understood the complex process. “He takes the time to show me pictures,” she says, alluding to the 3D imaging MD Anderson’s spine specialists use to visualize spine tumors and plan surgeries. These technologies help our surgeons plan and execute surgeries more precisely. Tatsui kept Lisa informed at every step about her condition and surgical treatments. “He showed me pictures that indicated my spinal cord was quite dented, like a V shape,” Lisa says. “He fixed me up! I’ve got 2 titanium rods in my back and 8 screws, but I can walk.”
It took about 10 weeks for the pain to ease up. Lisa used a walker for several weeks, then a cane. Today, thanks to the care she received from Tatsui and his advanced practice nurse, Queena Gonzalez, she can walk unassisted. “I’m careful, but I would attribute my ability to walk to Dr. Tatsui and Queena. I can tell they care about me,” says Lisa, who recently started physical therapy. “Once that nerve finally relaxed, I was normal again.”
Finding comfort in MD Anderson
Once again, Lisa is moving – this time, closer to MD Anderson. “A large part of the decision was because Dr. Abouharb is looking for clinical trials for me,” she says. Her doctors will need to monitor her condition closely if she participates in a clinical trial, which means more frequent appointments.
Lisa also continues to see Abouharb regularly. “She moved to MD Anderson League City, and I followed her there,” says Lisa. “I have all my scans at MD Anderson’s Texas Medical Center Campus, but it’s worth it to have the relationship. She’s been with me for nine years, and it’s comforting to be in such good hands.”
A positive outlook
Lisa attributes her recovery to her faith and her outlook. “Positive outlook is a whole lot of it,” she says. “You have to have a lot of faith. I live on prayer, and I’m not reluctant to ask people to pray for me.”
Lisa also has faith in the scientists and researchers working on new cancer treatments. “If they treat me long enough, I’ll be here when the cure comes,” she says.
For now, she’s living her life to the fullest. “Metastatic cancer is more like a chronic illness now,” she says. “It’s like whack-a-mole: when something comes up, you whack it down. Dr Tatsui whack-a-moled that spot on my spine down.”
What would she tell someone else with metastatic cancer? “Go to MD Anderson first. It matters where you go first; that’s what the billboard says.”
Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.
Why choose MD Anderson for spinal tumor treatment?
MD Anderson's Brain and Spine Center offers one of the most comprehensive specialized programs in the United States for the treatment of benign (not cancer) and malignant (cancer) spinal tumors. When you are treated here, you benefit from the knowledge and experience of some of the nation's most renowned spinal cancer experts.Our Spinal Tumor Treatment Approach
Our physicians approach spinal tumor care in specialized teams, bringing together incredible skill to give you the highest level of customized care. This personalized care and our partnership with you focus on the most advanced treatments with the least impact on your body.
Your spinal tumor treatment team may include neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, neuro-oncologists, neuropathologists and nurse practitioners. They collaborate and communicate every step of the way. They are joined by a support staff trained in helping patients with spinal tumors.
Surgical Skill
Treatment for spinal cancer often includes surgery, and surgical skill is key to successful outcomes. Our surgeons complete more spine tumor surgeries each year than many surgeons do in a lifetime. This gives them a high level of experience and expertise that can make a real difference in your treatment and recovery.
And our physicians have at their fingertips the latest technology and techniques to treat spinal tumors, including:
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
- Proton therapy
- Targeted therapies
We are constantly researching newer, more effective and safer surgical and medical approaches for spinal tumors. Numerous clinical trials of new treatments are available for spinal tumors.
Be honest with others around you, and let them in. It will be hard, but cancer will not define us.
The Brain and Spine Center at MD Anderson