Primary Benign Spinal Tumors

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Originating in the spinal cord itself, primary benign tumors aren't cancerous, but they can cause significant problems due to the pressure they place on the spine. It's crucial that the tumors are treated effectively by a skilled team that understands their unique characteristics.

To date, the causes of primary benign tumors aren't understood, but doctors and researchers at the Florida Hospital Brain and Spinal Cancer Program continue to look for new ways to treat the disease with the hope of not only finding a cause, but a cure.

Following are the most common primary benign spinal tumors:

Enostosis (En-os-toe-sis)

Also known as a bone island, enostosis occurs most frequently in the thoracic and lumbar part of the spine, usually between T1 and T7 and L1 and L2. Usually, these lesions are are discovered early as part of other routine examinations. Most remain stable, though some may grow slowly.

Osteoid Osteoma (Os-tea-oid Os-tee-oh-ma

Sixty percent of all incidences of osteoid osteomas can be found in the lumbar region, 27% in the cervical region, 12% in the thoracic region and 2% in the sacral region. These tumors are actively symptomatic, causing painful scoliosis, radicular pain, gait disturbances and muscular atrophy, particularly at night. On a plain x-ray, osteoid osteomas appear as round or oval with a surrounding rim of hardened bone.

Osteoblastoma (Os-tea-oh-blast-oh-ma)

Similar in appearance to osteoid osteoma, it is behaviorally different. Osteoblastomas occur in patients between the ages of 20 and 40, predominantly males. The tumor can be found equally in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar segments of the spine. Most people show symptoms such as back pain which is increased by motion, neurologic abnormalities, or weakness.  In particularly aggressive cases, osteoblastoma will cause bone destruction and invade surrounding tissue. The recurrence rate of conventional osteoblastomas is 10-20%.

Aneurysmal Bone Cysts (An-you-ris-mal)

Known as ABC for short, aneurysmal bone cysts affect young patients - 8 out of 10 ABC diagnosis are given to patients younger than 20. They are blood-filled, tumor-like cysts that expand the bone, giving it the appearance of being "blown out." Aneurysmal bone cysts can involve the entire vertebrae it started in and invade others as well. While benign, they can be fairly destructive in the area they inhabit and there is a high likelihood they will reoccur.

Osteochondroma (Os-tea-oh-chon-dro-ma)

This is a benign tumor that usually occurs near the end of a long bone, such as those in the spine. Containing bone and cartilage, this tumor is one of the most common forms of benign bone tumors. Osteochondromas don't spread beyond the affected bone and rarely change into a malignant condition down the road, but the osteochondromas in the spine have a higher risk of malignancy.

Giant Cell Tumor

These tumors are extremely rare. Only one person in every million is diagnosed with this type of cancer. It is characterized by its large, multi-nucleated cells, hence the name. Giant cell tumors are solitary, can be quite destructive locally and typically affect adults between 20 and 40 years of age. While considered benign, giant cell tumors in the spine can spread elsewhere. However, this type of tumor is rare, accounting for only 7% of all giant cell tumors in the body.

Even if these tumors are benign, they can still cause complications and should be treated by a specialist. You should consult with your doctor to confirm the presence of the tumor and obtain treatment for it so early symptoms worsen, preventing the best possible outcome. The doctors at the Florida Hospital Brain and Spinal Cancer Program will be happy to perform a complete examination and develop a treatment plan that is sensible and effective for any benign spine or spinal cord tumor diagnosis.