Neoplasm 

A neoplasm, meaning “new growth” in Greek, is an atypical growth of tissue in the body. When tissue cells don’t die as they should or rapidly overproduce, a mass unassociated with the normal tissue surrounding it can develop. In the medical field, the terms “neoplasm” and “tumor” are generally used interchangeably. A neoplasm that is determined to be cancerous is classified as malignant. A malignant neoplasm grows aggressively and has a high chance of spreading to surrounding tissues and other areas of the body. Non-cancerous masses are classified as benign, which means the abnormal neoplasm cells are not likely to grow, spread, or invade surrounding tissues.

Neoplasm in the Spine

Finding a spinal neoplasm is rare, but there are two ways an abnormal tissue mass may appear in the spine. A primary spinal neoplasm is a mass that forms from cells within or near the spine. They can be either benign or malignant. Although no cause is certain, a primary spinal neoplasm is believed to develop due to exposure to chemicals or radiation in the environment.

A secondary spinal neoplasm, however, forms when the malignant, or cancerous, cells from other parts of the body – such as the prostate gland, lungs and breasts – metastasize (move) to the spinal column via veins and arteries.

Symptoms

Symptoms caused by a neoplasm will vary based on its location in the body, but may cause non-mechanical pain. Non-mechanical pain is usually not attributed to stress, injury, or a particular activity. Pain may or may not increase with certain activity and may be worse at night. Other symptoms exhibited may be similar to those of a bulging or herniated disc, or spinal stenosis, such as numbness, weakness, or sciatica (shooting pains down the lower back, buttocks, legs, and feet). Spasticity (continuous muscle contraction), spinal deformity, fever and partial paralysis may also manifest.

Treatments

A spinal neoplasm can be treated to alleviate pain, but treatment will depend on the type and location of the mass. Although the type of neoplasm might not be curable, the first goal may be to eliminate pressure from the afflicted nerve roots or spinal cord by surgically removing the mass or performing a less-invasive ablation therapy, such as radiofrequency ablation. This type of ablation destroys cancerous cells with direct heat. Chemotherapy and radiation may also be required.