Spinal Cord Tumors
The Condition
A growth that develops within or next to the spinal canal, spinal cord tumors can be non-cancerous or cancerous. They can also start and stay in the spine (primary tumors) or they can spread to other areas in the body (metastatic)—metastatic tumors are rare in children. When it comes to spinal cord tumors there are two types:
- Intradural tumors, which grow within the spinal cord itself.
- Extradural or vertebral tumors, which grow in the bones of the spine.
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The Treatment
The location and size of the tumor, as well as how much of it can be surgically removed, is all carefully considered when determining the treatment plan. It will also typically include chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy to both shrink and kill the cancer cells.
The Nationwide Children’s Difference
Patients and their families will be supported by a multi-disciplinary team of providers through our Brain Tumor Program, all dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes. Depending on the specific tumor and treatment plan, the patient will be cared for by team members from all areas (oncologists, neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, clinical psychologists, rehabilitation medicine doctors, neurologists, endocrinologists, and more), working together to do whatever it takes.
The Ongoing Research
As a national leader in oncology research and clinical trials, there are many ongoing studies to understand why these tumors develop and how to appropriately target them. We are members of all major pediatric brain tumor clinical trial consortia including Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC), Collaborative Network of Neuro-Oncology Clinical Trials (CONNECT), Pacific Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC), and the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). Currently, we have many open clinical trials testing new drugs in tumors, including spinal cord tumors.