How Do You Diagnose A Spinal Tumor?
The discovery of a spinal tumor can cause much anxiety and uncertainty in a patient or a patient’s loved one. A spinal tumor can be found inside the spinal column, inside the bones of the spine, or in the area surrounding the spine. Although many tumors are noncancerous, the spinal tumor is especially serious because the tumor’s compression on the surrounding nerves can cause severe pain and even permanent nerve damage. Being educated and assertive in one’s search for medical attention can contribute to the accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment of a spinal tumor. Take a thorough family history. Some occurrences of tumors are genetic. Pay attention to the symptoms being presented, such as chronic back pain, spinal deformities, slight paralysis and malaise. Ways to diagnose these symptoms are further explained at Spine Universe (see Resources below). Have a physician perform a biopsy of the tumor. A biopsy is the only method to diagnose whether a tumor is benign (noncancerous) or m