Tuberculosis of the Spine

Spinal tuberculosis, also widely recognized as Pott’s disease or tuberculous spondylitis, is an uncommon infectious disease that causes the vertebrae to collapse, resulting in a deformity or kyphosis, i.e., a hunchback. Bone tuberculosis begins in the vertebrae and gradually spreads to neighboring areas. Tuberculosis is most commonly caused by infectious bacteria – Mycobacterium tuberculosis that infect the lungs. If left untreated, it has the potential to spread to the spine and end up causing spinal arthritis. When the infection spreads to two adjacent joints, the spinal disc receives fewer nutrients and degrades. As a result, when a disc collapses, the vertebrae narrow and collapse, causing spinal cord damage. If left untreated, this condition can result in nerve damage, paralysis, and back deformities.

Spinal Osteomyelitis

Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are commonly responsible for osteomyelitis. In addition, fungi and mycobacteria can also cause osteomyelitis.

Spine Metastasis

Spinal metastasis refers to tumors that develop in the spinal column but are caused by cancer in another part of the body. These tumors can compress the spinal cord, causing weakness, paralysis, decreased bodily sensation, and urination and bowel function troubles.

Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression

Every nerve in your body is protected by a layer of tissue called a sheath. A schwannoma is a tumor that grows in the sheaths of nerves in your peripheral nervous system, or the parts of your nervous system that aren’t in your brain or spinal cord. You may hear schwannomas referred to as neurilemomas, neuromas,or neurolemomas. Schwannomas are usually benign, meaning they’re harmless. In rare cases, they can be malignant, or cancerous. Malignant schwannomas are also called soft tissue sarcomas. Most people with schwannomas only have one, but it’s possible to have more. Multiple schwannomas are usually a result of schwannomatosis. This is the least common type of a rare condition called neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumors in the nervous system. Another form, called neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), can also cause schwannomas.

Intradural Spinal cord Tumor

INTRADURAL SPINAL CORD TUMOR
Intradural spinal cord tumors are categorized according to their location within the spinal cord parenchyma. Intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs) are found within the spinal cord, whereas extramedullary spinal cord tumors (EMSCTs) are located outside the spinal cord in the subarachnoid space.

TREATMENT OF INTRADURAL SPINAL CORD TUMOR
Intradural spinal tumors are extremely rare central nervous system tumors. However, surgical resection without provoking neurological deficits is complicated because of the spinal cord and its sections, the compact structure of the cord and nerves, and the infiltrative nature of these tumors. Similarly, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used for the treatment of intradural spinal tumors. Therefore, therapeutic approaches directed at the genetic alterations and molecular biology specific to these tumors would be beneficial.

Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumor

Intramedullary spinal cord tumors are a subtype of intradural spinal tumor that develops from cells within the spinal cord rather than adjacent structures like the nerve roots or meninges. They are far less common than brain tumors and are assumed to account for 5-10% of all intrinsic central nervous system tumors. Their most common symptom is back pain, which is clinically difficult to differentiate from back pain caused by musculoskeletal conditions. Most intramedullary spinal cord tumors are glial in origin because they are histologically and immunohistochemically equivalent to differentiated non-neuronal cell types found in nonpathological spinal cord tissue, such as ependymal cells and astrocytes. Since many of these tumors grow slowly, symptoms usually appear two years before diagnosis. Most people with schwannomas only have one, but it’s possible to have more. Multiple schwannomas are usually a result of schwannomatosis. This is the least common type of a rare condition called neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumors in the nervous system. Another form, called neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), can also cause schwannomas.