Pathology of Spinal Tumours

Abstract

Abstract Spinal tumours are uncommon lesions, but they may cause significant morbidity and mortality. Majority of the spinal tumours are metastatic, that is, spread from tumours in other organs, which are mostly seen in older patients. Primary sarcomas involving the spinal column are rare. Benign tumours and tumour-like lesions of the musculoskeletal system are mostly seen in young patients. Spinal tumours can be subdivided into primary tumours, which are rare, and secondary tumours or metastases, which are much common. Primary vertebral tumours may be benign or malignant. Common benign spinal tumours include osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, osteochondroma, aneurysmal bone cyst and giant cell tumour. There are many malignant primary spinal tumours such as- osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and chordoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, plasmacytoma and multiple myeloma. However, all of them, except multiple myeloma, are rare. Intraspinal tumours may be extradural or intradural. Common intradural extramedullary tumours include meningioma, schwannoma and intradural neurofibroma, whereas astrocytoma, ependymoma and haemangioblastoma are a few examples of intradural intramedullary tumours.