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A spinal tumor is a growth that develops in the spinal column, cord, nerves, or bones. This type of tumor affects vertebrae in the spine and is hence also known as a vertebral tumor. Due to unnoticeable symptoms, this tumor is often diagnosed late.
Malignant or benign spinal tumors are also possible. Your spinal cord tissues may get harmed if the tumor spreads further. Primary spinal tumors first appear in your spine or spinal cord. Metastatic or secondary tumors are the result of cancer migrating from your spine to another part of your body.
If you are diagnosed with this type of cancer, you will have to have spinal tumor surgery in India. The cost of surgery in India is reasonable compared to other countries. Our country is known for providing cutting-edge treatments and reasonable prices. Here at Cross Border Care, the best medical consultants in India, let us see how you can get spinal tumor treatment in India.
Understanding Spinal Tumor
A spinal tumor is an abnormal mass of cell growth that develops inside or outside the spinal cord. A spinal cord can develop in:
● Bones that form the spine
● The cartilage that protects the joints in the vertebrae
● Spinal discs that cushion the space between the vertebrae
● Blood vessels that supply nutrients to the spine
● Peripheral nerves that exit the vertebrae
● Dura mater, pia mater, and arachnoid mater, the three membrane layers
● Spinal cord
Types of Spinal Tumors
Any tumor growth, whether cancerous or not, can press the nerves and cause pain and other neurological defects. Loss of sensation or muscle weakness, especially in the legs, difficulty in walking are some of the significant symptoms of a spinal tumor. There are different types of spinal tumors:
| Type | Explanation |
| Extradural | Found outside the dura matter lining, and the most common type |
| Intradural | Part of the dura matter lining |
| Intramedullary | Inside spinal cord |
| Extramedullary | Inside the dura but outside the spinal cord |
Surgeons at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, treat spinal tumors even in the most inaccessible areas. High-powered microscopes used in surgery help remove even delicately placed intradural tumors. Total Spondylectomy—removal of the entire vertebra as a definitive cure—is also performed for some spinal tumors.
What are the signs and symptoms of spine cancer?
Some symptoms of spine cancer develop gradually, while others appear out of nowhere and start advancing. The primary symptoms include:
● Back and neck pain
● Leg or arm pain
● Fatigue paralysis
● Spinal deformities
● Loss of bowel function
● Difficulty in standing
● Numbness in extremities
Who is at risk?
● Men are at higher risk of developing spinal cord tumors than women
● Middle-aged older adults are also prone to spinal cord tumor
● Children below 9 years of age
● People with having family history of cancer
● People who are exposed to hazardous radiation.
Diagnosis of Spinal Tumor in India
Here are some lists of tests that are performed before spinal tumor treatment in India:
● CT scan
● MRI scan
● Bone scan
● Biopsy
● PET CT scan
Grades of Spinal Tumor
Grade 1:
● Benign or non-cancerous
● The tumor slowly grows in this stage
● No change in the structure if cell
● Have good prognosis
Grade 2:
● During this stage spinal cord tumor will grow at a slow stage
● The structure of tumor cells will begin to change
● Cancer begins to spread
Grade 3:
● The structure of cells becomes abnormal.
● The cancer cell begins dividing at a very fast rate
● Cancer begins to spread to the neighbouring structures
Grade 4:
● Cancerous
● Very aggressive
● The cancer cells multiply very fast
● The cell loses its structure
What is spinal cord tumor staging?
Staging helps to determine how much the cancer has spread. If the spinal cord tumor is secondary, staging is required. It is not needed when the tumor is primary because primary tumors will not spread beyond the nervous system.
Treatment of Spinal Tumor in India
The treatment of a spinal cord tumor in India depends on some factors, such as the patient’s age, general health, and the size and type of tumor. The results of the above tests will help you decide what is the best course of action before your spinal cord tumor treatment in India.
Treatment can be given for different reasons, and the potential benefits will vary for each person. If you’ve been offered treatment that aims to cure your cancer, deciding whether to have the treatment may not be difficult. However, if a cure is not possible and the treatment is to control the cancer for some time.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Spinal Tumor in India
Radiotherapy: Radiotherapy is often used to treat malignant tumors that cannot be reached via surgery. It can also be used after the surgery to remove the tumor cells that could not be removed. Radiotherapy for spinal tumors uses X-rays and gamma rays to destroy the spine tumor. The treatment can both slow down the tumor growth and even eliminate it.
Radio Surgery: Radiosurgery for spine tumor also uses radiotherapy and can be used as a treatment option when surgery is not possible due to the small size of tumors. Despite the name, it is a non-surgical treatment option and does not involve any incisions or cuts. It works by targeting high doses of radiation at the spine tumor to damage it. The treatment is given by a machine known as LINAC OR LINEAR ACCELERATOR or GAMMA KNIFE/Zap-X. Unlike radiotherapy, it requires several sessions over weeks and months and does not require an overnight stay in the hospital. You can return to your work the same day without any potential side effects of surgery or radiotherapy.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy for spinal tumor uses drugs to destroy tumor cells. Some chemotherapy drugs are taken by mouth, and some are given via drip into a vein. It is mostly given to people with metastatic spinal tumors. The complete course of chemo involves several cycles. The number of cycles is decided by the type of spine tumor you have.
Corticosteroids
Surgery and Radiation sometimes cause inflammation inside the spinal cord. To treat this, doctors also prescribe corticosteroids, but they should be used only for a short time; otherwise, they can cause many side effects.
Minimally Invasive Spinal Tumor Surgery
● The surgery is performed under general anesthesia
● It can be performed as an open procedure or minimally invasive technique.
● An incision is made in the skin, and tissues are gently moved aside to create a path to the spine.
● Minimally invasive spinal tumor surgery in India minimizes the damage to the surrounding tissue to aid the faster recovery.
● Insertion of a catheter to the site of the tumor to deliver an embolic agent blocking the vessels supplying the tumor, thus controlling bleeding.
● The posterior approach allows the identification of the dura and exposure of the nerve roots. The anterior approach is performed for tumors in the front of the spine.
● After the Spine Tumor Surgery, the incisions are sewn together with sutures or staples to be removed 10-14 days after the procedure.
Hi-Tech Assisted Spinal Tumor Surgery – Neuronavigation Surgery
While surgery is the first option to treat benign and malignant tumors, most modern surgical tools use Brain Suit Intra Operative MRI-guided robotic and laser surgery to improve the outcomes.
Spinal Decompression
The surgery removes the entire tumor or part of it. In this surgery, the spinal tumor can be debunked, completely removed, or partially removed. This type of surgery can decompress or relieve the pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots, thus helping to reduce pain and symptoms.
Vertebroplasty: A minimally invasive procedure where bone cement is injected into fractured vertebrae to stabilize and reduce pain caused by spinal fractures.
ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion): A surgery that removes a damaged disc in the neck, relieving pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, and fusing the vertebrae for stability.
Laminectomy: A decompression surgery that removes part of the vertebra (lamina) to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, often due to spinal stenosis.
PLIF (Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion): A spinal fusion surgery where the damaged disc is removed from the back (posterior) and replaced with a bone graft to fuse the vertebrae.
TLIF (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion): A type of lumbar fusion surgery that accesses the spine through the side of the vertebrae, allowing removal of a disc and placement of bone graft for fusion.
What can you expect after spinal tumor surgery in India?
Your typical hospital stay will range from 5 to 10 days. A period of physical rehabilitation is also needed after the removal of the spinal tumor. This will require you to be in touch with physical therapists and doctors who specialize in physical recovery after major operations.
Recovery after Spinal tumor surgery
The total recovery time after the spinal surgery often depends on the complexity of the surgery. The healing process will continue several months after the surgery and may last for a year or more.
Benefits of spinal tumor surgery
● Stabilize spinal cord
● Preserve neurological function
● Relieve symptoms
● Restore functions
● Prevent paralysis
What is the cost of spinal tumor surgery in India?
| Hospital | Cost |
| Max Healthcare | 9000$ |
| Indraprastha Apollo Hospital | 12000$ |
| Marengo Asia Hospital | 9000$ |
| Indian Spinal Injuries Centre | 10000$ |
| Artemis Hospital | 8500$ |
Why is India the best destination for spinal tumor surgery?
In developed countries, expensive spinal tumor surgery and long waiting times are a great matter of concern.
India is an emerging hub for spine health, offering high-quality care at affordable prices. With Cross-Border Care, you can now get access to the best doctors and hospitals for spinal tumor surgery.
What Is the Success Rate for Spinal Tumor Surgery in India?
The success rate for spinal tumor surgery in India is over 80%.
The survival rate varies significantly according to the type of tumor: the overall survival rate was estimated to be around 73%.
The local tumor control success rate is 81% after surgery, depending on the situation.
Book your Consultation today
To know more about spinal tumor surgery in India, associated costs, hospitals, and doctors, book your consultation with the best medical consultant in India, Dr Nadeem Khan today!!
