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UCLA Neurosurgery

UCLA Neurosurgery

UCLA Neurosurgery
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    • Spine Conditions
    • Acoustic Neuroma
    • Adult Tethered Cord
    • Acromegaly
    • Acute Subdural Hematomas
    • Anaplastic Astrocytoma (AA)
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis
    • Aqueductal Stenosis
    • Arachnoid Cysts
    • Arnold Chiari Malformation
    • Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
    • Astrocytoma
    • Ballism
    • Basilar Invagination
    • Brachial Plexus Injury
    • Brain Aneurysm
    • Brain Attack (Stroke)
    • Brain AVM
    • Brain Conditions
    • Brain Metastases
    • Brainstem Glioma
    • Carotid Dissection
    • Carotid Stenosis
    • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    • Causalgia
    • Cavernous Angioma
    • Cerebral Aneurysms
    • Cerebral Contusion and Intracerebral Hematoma
    • Chordomas
    • Chorea
    • Chronic Subdural Hematomas
    • Colloid Cyst
    • Coma
    • Concussion
    • Congenital Dermal Sinus
    • Cranial GunShot Wounds
    • Craniopharyngioma
    • Craniosynostosis
    • Cushing's Disease
    • Cyst Epidermoid Tumor
    • Dandy Walker Syndrome
    • Degenerative Disc Disease
    • Dermoid Tumor
    • Disc Herniation
    • Dural Arteriovenous Malformations
    • Dystonia
    • Ependymoma
    • Epidermoid Tumor (Cyst)
    • Epidural Hematomas
    • Epilepsy
    • Essential Tremor
    • Extratemporal Lobe Epilepsies
    • Facet Joint Syndrome
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
    • Ganglioglioma
    • Glioblastoma
    • Germinoma
    • Glioma
    • Glomus Jugulare Tumor
    • Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
    • Hemangioblastomas
    • Hemi-Facial Spasm
    • Hydrocephalus
    • Hyperhidrosis
    • Intracerebral Hemorrhage
    • Intracranial Hypotension
    • JPA
    • Low-Grade Astrocytoma
    • Lymphocytic Hypophysitis
    • Lymphoma
    • Malignant Nerve Sheath Tumors
    • Medulloblastoma
    • Meningioma Brain Tumor
    • Meralgia Paresthetica
    • Metastatic Brain Tumors
    • Moyamoya Disease
    • Myelomeningocele
    • Myelopathy
    • Nelson's Syndrome
    • Neurocysticercosis
    • Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Schwannomatosis
    • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
    • Oligodendroglioma
    • Optic Nerve Glioma
    • Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint
    • Osteoarthritis of the Spine
    • Osteomyelitis
    • Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures
    • Parkinsons Syndrome
    • Pediatric Conditions
    • Pediatric Hydrocephalus
    • Peripheral Nerve Injury
    • Phantom Limb Pain
    • Pineal Tumor
    • Pineoblastoma
    • Pineocytoma
    • Platybasia
    • Postherpetic Neuralgia
    • Post-Traumatic Seizures
    • Primary CNS Lymphoma
    • Pseudotumor Cerebri
    • Radiculopathy—Cervical & Lumbar (Pinched Nerve)
    • Recurrent Adenomas
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Schwannomas
    • Scoliosis
    • Seizure
    • Skull Fracture
    • Slit Ventricle Syndrome
    • Spasticity
    • Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
    • Spinal Compression Fractures
    • Spine Conditions
    • Spinal Cord Injury
    • Spinal Cord Lipomas & Lipomyelomeningoceles
    • Spinal Cord Tumors
    • Stenosis
    • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
    • Syringomyelia
    • Tethered Cord Syndrome
    • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
    • Thyrotroph (TSH) Secreting Adenomas
    • Torticollis
    • Traumatic Hematomas
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    • Trochanteric Bursitis
    • Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
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UCLA Neurosurgery

Conditions Treated

Conditions Treated

Conditions Treated

  • Acoustic Neuroma
  • Adult Tethered Cord
  • Acromegaly
  • Acute Subdural Hematomas
  • Anaplastic Astrocytoma (AA)
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Aqueductal Stenosis
  • Arachnoid Cysts
  • Arnold Chiari Malformation
  • Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
  • Astrocytoma
  • Ballism
  • Basilar Invagination
  • Brachial Plexus Injury
  • Brain Aneurysm
  • Brain Attack (Stroke)
  • Brain AVM
  • Brain Conditions
  • Brain Metastases
  • Brainstem Glioma
  • Carotid Dissection
  • Carotid Stenosis
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Causalgia
  • Cavernous Angioma
  • Cerebral Aneurysms
  • Cerebral Contusion and Intracerebral Hematoma
  • Chordomas
  • Chorea
  • Chronic Subdural Hematomas
  • Colloid Cyst
  • Coma
  • Concussion
  • Congenital Dermal Sinus
  • Cranial GunShot Wounds
  • Craniopharyngioma
  • Craniosynostosis
  • Cushing's Disease
  • Cyst Epidermoid Tumor
  • Dandy Walker Syndrome
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Dermoid Tumor
  • Disc Herniation
  • Dural Arteriovenous Malformations
  • Dystonia
  • Ependymoma
  • Epidermoid Tumor (Cyst)
  • Epidural Hematomas
  • Epilepsy
  • Essential Tremor
  • Extratemporal Lobe Epilepsies
  • Facet Joint Syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
  • Ganglioglioma
  • Glioblastoma
  • Germinoma
  • Glioma
  • Glomus Jugulare Tumor
  • Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
  • Hemangioblastomas
  • Hemi-Facial Spasm
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Intracerebral Hemorrhage
  • Intracranial Hypotension
  • JPA
  • Low-Grade Astrocytoma
  • Lymphocytic Hypophysitis
  • Lymphoma
  • Malignant Nerve Sheath Tumors
  • Medulloblastoma
  • Meningioma Brain Tumor
  • Meralgia Paresthetica
  • Metastatic Brain Tumors
  • Moyamoya Disease
  • Myelomeningocele
  • Myelopathy
  • Nelson's Syndrome
  • Neurocysticercosis
  • Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Schwannomatosis
  • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
  • Oligodendroglioma
  • Optic Nerve Glioma
  • Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint
  • Osteoarthritis of the Spine
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures
  • Parkinsons Syndrome
  • Pediatric Conditions
  • Pediatric Hydrocephalus
  • Peripheral Nerve Injury
  • Phantom Limb Pain
  • Pineal Tumor
  • Pineoblastoma
  • Pineocytoma
  • Platybasia
  • Postherpetic Neuralgia
  • Post-Traumatic Seizures
  • Primary CNS Lymphoma
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri
  • Radiculopathy—Cervical & Lumbar (Pinched Nerve)
  • Recurrent Adenomas
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Schwannomas
  • Scoliosis
  • Seizure
  • Skull Fracture
  • Slit Ventricle Syndrome
  • Spasticity
  • Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
  • Spinal Compression Fractures
  • Spine Conditions
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Spinal Cord Lipomas & Lipomyelomeningoceles
  • Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Stenosis
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  • Syringomyelia
  • Tethered Cord Syndrome
  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
  • Thyrotroph (TSH) Secreting Adenomas
  • Torticollis
  • Traumatic Hematomas
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Trochanteric Bursitis
  • Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
  • Acoustic Neuroma
  • Adult Tethered Cord
  • Acromegaly
  • Acute Subdural Hematomas
  • Anaplastic Astrocytoma (AA)
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Aqueductal Stenosis
  • Arachnoid Cysts
  • Arnold Chiari Malformation
  • Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
  • Astrocytoma
  • Ballism
  • Basilar Invagination
  • Brachial Plexus Injury
  • Brain Aneurysm
  • Brain Attack (Stroke)
  • Brain AVM
  • Brain Conditions
  • Brain Metastases
  • Brainstem Glioma
  • Carotid Dissection
  • Carotid Stenosis
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Causalgia
  • Cavernous Angioma
  • Cerebral Aneurysms
  • Cerebral Contusion and Intracerebral Hematoma
  • Chordomas
  • Chorea
  • Chronic Subdural Hematomas
  • Colloid Cyst
  • Coma
  • Concussion
  • Congenital Dermal Sinus
  • Cranial GunShot Wounds
  • Craniopharyngioma
  • Craniosynostosis
  • Cushing's Disease
  • Cyst Epidermoid Tumor
  • Dandy Walker Syndrome
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Dermoid Tumor
  • Disc Herniation
  • Dural Arteriovenous Malformations
  • Dystonia
  • Ependymoma
  • Epidermoid Tumor (Cyst)
  • Epidural Hematomas
  • Epilepsy
  • Essential Tremor
  • Extratemporal Lobe Epilepsies
  • Facet Joint Syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
  • Ganglioglioma
  • Glioblastoma
  • Germinoma
  • Glioma
  • Glomus Jugulare Tumor
  • Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
  • Hemangioblastomas
  • Hemi-Facial Spasm
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Intracerebral Hemorrhage
  • Intracranial Hypotension
  • JPA
  • Low-Grade Astrocytoma
  • Lymphocytic Hypophysitis
  • Lymphoma
  • Malignant Nerve Sheath Tumors
  • Medulloblastoma
  • Meningioma Brain Tumor
  • Meralgia Paresthetica
  • Metastatic Brain Tumors
  • Moyamoya Disease
  • Myelomeningocele
  • Myelopathy
  • Nelson's Syndrome
  • Neurocysticercosis
  • Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Schwannomatosis
  • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
  • Oligodendroglioma
  • Optic Nerve Glioma
  • Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint
  • Osteoarthritis of the Spine
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures
  • Parkinsons Syndrome
  • Pediatric Conditions
  • Pediatric Hydrocephalus
  • Peripheral Nerve Injury
  • Phantom Limb Pain
  • Pineal Tumor
  • Pineoblastoma
  • Pineocytoma
  • Platybasia
  • Postherpetic Neuralgia
  • Post-Traumatic Seizures
  • Primary CNS Lymphoma
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri
  • Radiculopathy—Cervical & Lumbar (Pinched Nerve)
  • Recurrent Adenomas
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Schwannomas
  • Scoliosis
  • Seizure
  • Skull Fracture
  • Slit Ventricle Syndrome
  • Spasticity
  • Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
  • Spinal Compression Fractures
  • Spine Conditions
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Spinal Cord Lipomas & Lipomyelomeningoceles
  • Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Stenosis
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  • Syringomyelia
  • Tethered Cord Syndrome
  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
  • Thyrotroph (TSH) Secreting Adenomas
  • Torticollis
  • Traumatic Hematomas
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Trochanteric Bursitis
  • Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
  1. Home
  2. Conditions Treated
  3. Spinal Cord Tumors

Spinal Cord Tumors

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About Spinal Cord Tumors

There is a variety of intradural tumors that occur within the spinal cord or spinal canal. Spinal Cord Tumors are generally divided into those that are contained within the enveloping membranes (meninges) that surround the cord (intradural), and those that lie outside these coverings (extradural). The dura is the outermost of these coverings. The majority arise from the cellular constituents of the spinal cord and filum terminale, nerve roots, or meninges.

Tumors are characterized according to their relationship to the spinal cord. Intramedullary tumors arise within the substance of the spinal cord, whereas extramedullary intradural tumors are extrinsic to the cord but lie within the dural envelope covering the spinal cord. Extradural tumors of the spine may also cause spinal cord compression. Many of these tumors are benign. The most common malignant tumor of the spine is a metastatic tumor, i.e., tumors that have spread from malignant tumors originating elsewhere in the body.

Symptoms: Spinal cord tumors present with pain that is usually localized to the areas of the tumor itself. Over time, this pain will spread and be accompanied by weakness, numbness, fatigue, and spasticity. Benign tumors show symptoms up to two years before diagnosis, whereas malignant tumors often present within a month of diagnosis.

Diagnosis: MRI is the diagnostic test of choice for all spinal tumors.

Treatment: Like all tumors, spinal cord tumors require complete and timely surgical removal to minimize the possibility of recurrence and spreading. Radiation or chemotherapy is indicated in all instances of potential malignancy.

For more information about spine related conditions and treatments, visit the UCLA Spine Center at at spinecenter.ucla.edu.

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