Diagnosis of Spinal Cord Tumor
Compression of the spinal cord by a tumor must be diagnosed and treated immediately to prevent permanent damage.

Doctors consider the possibility of a spinal cord tumor in people who have certain cancers in other parts of the body, who develop pain in a specific area of the spine, and who have certain patterns of weakness or tingling. Because the spinal cord is organized in a specific way, doctors can locate the tumor by determining which parts of the body are not functioning normally (see Figure: Where Is the Spinal Cord Damaged?).

Doctors must rule out other disorders that can affect the function of the spinal cord, such as a herniated disk, injuries, inflammation of the spinal cord, an inadequate blood supply to the spinal cord, or compression by a pocket of pus (abscess) or a blood clot .

Several procedures can help doctors diagnose a spinal cord tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the best procedure for examining all the structures of the spinal cord and spine. When MRI is unavailable, myelography with computed tomography (CT) may be done instead. X-rays of the spine can show only changes in the bones, and many tumors do not affect the bone when they are in an early stage.

A biopsy is sometimes needed to diagnose the precise type of tumor, especially primary spinal cord tumors. However, a biopsy is not needed for spinal cord tumors that result from metastases if cancer has been diagnosed elsewhere in the body. Often, a biopsy requires surgery, but sometimes it can be done using a needle with CT or MRI to guide doctors as they place the needle in the tumor.