Spinal Tumor Treatment in West Palm Beach & Jupiter, FL
Spinal tumors are abnormal growths that can develop in or around the spine and spinal cord. They may be benign or malignant and can originate in the spine or spread from cancer elsewhere in the body. Because spinal tumors can affect the spinal cord, nerves, bones, and surrounding tissues, they may cause persistent back pain, numbness, weakness, balance problems, or other neurological symptoms. For patients in West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach County, and throughout South Florida, Dr. Zachary Grabel provides specialized evaluation and surgical care for complex spinal conditions, including spinal tumors.
Evaluating a suspected spinal tumor requires careful assessment of symptoms, neurological function, and imaging findings. Dr. Grabel works as part of a multidisciplinary approach when appropriate to help determine the nature and location of a tumor and whether surgical intervention may be beneficial for diagnosis, decompression, stabilization, or tumor removal.
What is a Spine Tumour?
A spine tumour is an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of tissues or cells in and around the spinal cord. Tumours can either be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Tumours that begin in the spine are called primary spinal tumours. Tumours that spread to the spine from other parts such as the breast, prostate, lung, and other areas are called secondary spinal tumours.
Types of Spine Tumours
Some of the commonly occurring benign spinal tumours are osteoma, osteoblastoma, hemangioma, and osteochondroma. Most commonly occurring malignant spinal tumours are chondrosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, and multiple myeloma.
Causes of Spine Tumours
The cause of primary spinal tumours is not known but may occur with genetic defects.
Secondary spinal tumours occur when the cancer cells arise from the kidneys, lungs, breasts, and spread to the spine. The other causes may include:
- Rapid division of cancer cells in the nerves, bones or cartilage of the spine
- Exposure to radiations and chemicals
- Hereditary tumours including neurofibromatosis, a tumour of the spinal nerves
Symptoms of Spine Tumours
You may experience persistent and chronic back pain, numbness, burning and tingling sensation, loss of sensation in your arms, knees, legs, and ankles, difficulty in balancing, and experience bladder or bowel control problems.
Diagnosis of Spine Tumours
Spine cancer can be diagnosed by neurological examination, which identifies the exact location of the tumour. Other imaging tests ordered may include cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination, myelogram, spine computed tomography scan, spine magnetic resonance imaging scan and spine X-ray. In addition to these tests, a bone scan and positron emission tomography (PET) scan are also done. Once the tumour is found, a biopsy is performed to identify the type of tumour and provide necessary treatment.
Treatments for Spinal Tumours
Medications such as corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to reduce inflammation and swelling around the spinal cord. External braces are also used to provide support and control pain.
Other treatments may provide permanent relief.
- Surgery: It is performed to remove the tumour confined only to one portion of the spine. Some of the complications observed after surgery are temporary loss of sensation, nerve tissue damage and bleeding. To minimise nerve damage, electrodes are used to test different nerves of the spine. In some cases, sound waves are used to break tumours and the remaining tissues are removed.
- Radiation therapy: This method uses high beam of radiations to destroy the cancer cells. It is used after surgery to destroy the remaining cancer cells. An advanced device called cyberknife, painless and non-invasive treatment that passes high doses of radiations to the targeted areas of the spinal cord, is used in radiotherapy.
- Chemotherapy: A combination of anti-cancer drugs is used to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy is used to shrink, stop the division and prevent the cancer cells from spreading to the surrounding tissues. The drugs enter the bloodstream and reach the cancer cells to destroy them.
- Physical therapy: Exercises may be needed to improve muscle strength and the ability to function independently.
Why Choose Dr. Grabel for Spinal Tumors
Dr. Zachary Grabel is a board-certified, fellowship-trained spine surgeon providing specialized care in West Palm Beach and Jupiter, Florida. He completed a combined orthopedic and neurosurgical spine fellowship at Cleveland Clinic, giving him advanced training in the evaluation and surgical management of complex conditions affecting the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.
Spinal tumors can present unique challenges because treatment must account for the tumor's location, type, extent, spinal stability, and relationship to the spinal cord and nerves. Dr. Grabel provides individualized surgical planning when intervention is appropriate, with the goal of addressing neurological compression, maintaining or restoring spinal stability, and supporting overall treatment goals. His affiliation with Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and involvement in spine research further support a comprehensive, evidence-informed approach to complex spine care.
Spinal Tumors FAQs
FAQs
What is a spinal tumor?
A spinal tumor is an abnormal growth of cells in or around the spine. Spinal tumors may be benign or malignant. Primary tumors originate in or near the spine, while metastatic tumors develop elsewhere in the body and spread to the spine.
What are the symptoms of a spinal tumor?
Symptoms depend on the tumor's location, size, and effect on nearby structures. Possible symptoms include persistent or worsening back pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, changes in sensation, difficulty with balance or walking, and bowel or bladder changes.
How are spinal tumors diagnosed?
Evaluation may include a medical history, physical and neurological examination, and imaging studies such as MRI, CT scans, or X-rays. Additional tests may be recommended depending on the suspected tumor. In some cases, a biopsy is performed to determine the specific type of tumor and help guide treatment.
Are all spinal tumors cancerous?
No. Spinal tumors can be benign or malignant. However, even a benign spinal tumor can cause serious symptoms if it grows near the spinal cord or nerves and creates pressure on these structures.
How are spinal tumors treated?
Treatment depends on the tumor type, location, size, symptoms, and whether it originated in the spine or spread from another part of the body. Treatment may include observation, medications for symptom management, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of treatments. A multidisciplinary team may be involved in developing an appropriate treatment plan.
When is surgery considered for a spinal tumor?
Surgery may be considered when a tumor is causing spinal cord or nerve compression, creating spinal instability, producing significant symptoms, or when tissue is needed for diagnosis. Depending on the circumstances, surgery may involve removing all or part of a tumor, decompressing the spinal cord or nerves, or stabilizing the spine.
Expert Spinal Tumor Care in West Palm Beach & Jupiter, FL
A spinal tumor requires specialized evaluation because its location can affect the spinal cord, nerves, and structural stability of the spine. Dr. Zachary Grabel provides complex spine care for patients in West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach County, and throughout South Florida, working with appropriate specialists when multidisciplinary treatment is needed.
If you have been diagnosed with a spinal tumor or are experiencing persistent back pain or neurological symptoms that require further evaluation, schedule a consultation with Dr. Grabel. A comprehensive assessment can help clarify your diagnosis and determine whether surgical treatment or another approach may be appropriate for your condition.
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