Benign Tumors

Osteoid Osteomas: Is a benign tumor that has affects the posterior part of the vertebra during adolescence. It occurs primarily in the pedicle and the posterior elements, not in the vertebral body. It presents as unrelenting pain which is worse at night, and sensitive to aspirin or non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs e.g. Advil. It may be difficult to detect on a X-rays, but a bone scan can easily detect the tumor. Treatment includes prolonged use of NSAID's, surgery, or radio frequency ablation. Recurrence is rare with surgery or ablation.

Osteblastomas: Osteblastomas are bigger than osteoid osteomas and are greater than 2 cm in diameter. They have a tendency to affect the posterior part of the spine, cause pain, be aggressive and usually require surgical resection. Recurrence rates are about 10% after surgery.

Aneurysmal Bone Cysts: These are benign tumors that occur in the cervical spine and affect posterior elements of the vertebrae. They affect normally affect adolescents, present with pain and cause neurological symptoms occasionally. The treatment of choice is removal of the tumor; decompression of the spinal elements may be required.

Giant Cell Tumors: They affect the vertebral body, can be aggressive and also spread sometimes. They present with pain as well as neurological symptoms. Most of the people who are affected are about 20 to 40 years old. Treatment is surgery and in some cases radiation and embolization of the tumor. Incomplete removal of the tumor can result in malignant transformation of the tumor.

Eosinophilic Granuloma: Is a benign lesion that presents with pain and radiographic finding of vertebra plana which is like a collapse of the vertebral body. These tumors occur by themselves, or as part of a syndrome which also involves many bones and organs. Many of these tumors are managed without surgery or with low dose radiation.

Enchondromas: Enchondromas are tumors which are made of cartilage. They sometimes enlarge and impinge on the spinal canal. The treatment of choice is surgery. A dramatic increase in size requires biopsy of the tumor.

Malignant Tumors

Metastatic disease: Most common sites which metastasize are the breast, prostate, kidney, thyroid, and lung. Tumor cells can reach the vertebral column by the venous and the arterial system. The spine and its surrounding parts have a good blood supply and drain many structures of the lower abdomen by the a number of veins called Batson's Plexus. The lymphatic system can also spread metastatic tumor cells. Tumors that spread to the spinal column cause significant pain as they are large and put pressure on the spinal cord, leading to pain and loss of normal function in the bowel, bladder and the legs. The treatment of metastatic cancer is usually pain relief, removing pressure on the spinal cord and preserving the patient's quality of life. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are used to reduce pain associated with metastatic cancers.

Myeloma: Is the most common malignant tumor of the bone. It affects adults older than 40 years of age. It is generalized and involves multiple bones but pain and involvement of the spine is the more common. Majority of patients have vertebrae that are involved while only a fewer number have vertebral pain. Chemotherapy and surgery are the recommended methods of treatment. 

Osteosarcoma: Is the second most common malignant tumor of bone. It generally affects adolescents and older people. It is rare for osteosarcoma to occur in the spine.

Leukemia: Leukemia can also present with neck pain as a result of the cancer growing in the bone marrow of the vertebrae. Although, the common symptoms of leukemia such as fevers, fatigue, bruising, bleeding, and anemia are noticeable before neck pain begins to occur.

How do you find out what is causing your Neck Pain? Doctor's diagnose the causes of neck pain by taking a comprehensive medical history by asking you a series of detailed questions about the neck pain, your general health, your family history, your health risks, and much more. Based on this they then order a series of tests to further investigate what the think might be the problem, known as their differential diagnosis.

Now you can do this online using YourDiagnosis.com           
OR Ask a registered Doctor a question online YourNetDoctor.com

You can store all your Personal Health Information securely online and access your medical records 24 hours a day 7 days a week from anywhere in the world using  MyNetRecord.com

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YourDiagnosis takes a very comprehensive medical history online using easy to understand questions which you can answer by just clicking on the relevant answers. Once completed it provides a comprehensive list of differential diagnoses as well as a detailed Personal Health Summary which you can take to your physician. You can also use it to store your medical history and symptoms history that can be used by your physician(s) at a later date. This would help you as you will not miss providing important information to the different doctors you visit.