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Spinal Cord Astrocytoma Cord Treatment

Astrocytomas are tumors of the spinal cord that develop within spinal cord cells called astrocytes. They generally appear in the upper spinal cord, near the neck and top of the chest. While patients of any age can be diagnosed with astrocytomas, they are more common in children. In patients under 10, astrocytomas are responsible for more than 90 percent of intramedullary tumors (tumors in the spine), and in teens they account for 60 percent of intramedullary tumors.

  1. Treatment

    • Treatment varies depending on certain factors. Most often, surgery is recommended but other options may include observation, chemotherapy, radiation or drug treatment. Factors considered include the location, type and size of the tumor and whether or not it is metastatic (that is, cancer that originated somewhere else on the body and spread to the spine).

    Surgery

    • Generally, surgery is the first course of recommended treatment, especially for benign tumors, as long as the tumor can be removed with a minimum risk of neurological damage. Advances in medical technology have made many more tumors operable. Surgical techniques include microsurgery, the use of ultrasonic aspirators, an evoked potential test and computer-assisted surgery. Microsurgery involves the use of a powerful microscope to remove tumor tissue while preserving healthy tissue. Ultrasonic aspirators use sound waves that vibrate to break up tumors and then suck up the pieces. The evoked potential test allows doctors to test the function of nerves using electrodes in order to avoid nerve damage from surgery. Finally, computer technology helps to locate and remove tumors safely.

    Observation

    • If a person has a slow growing, benign (non-cancerous) astrocytoma in the spinal cord, careful observation may be the best treatment. This is especially true for elderly patients who are exhibiting no symptoms whose tumor was only discovered as part of a medical exam for an unrelated condition. Periodic MRI scans monitor tumor growth to ensure the tumor doesn't become too large. In this way, the potential risks and side effects of treatment for spinal cord astrocytoma are avoided as long as possible.

    Radiation Therapy

    • If the spinal astrocytoma is cancerous, radiation may be recommended following the surgery to remove the astrocytoma. Radiation may also be recommended when a tumor is inoperable. Radiation therapy lasts between 15 and 20 minutes and involves aiming high energy rays, made by linear accelerators, at the tumors.

    Chemotherapy

    • Chemotherapy may be an option for malignant spinal cord astrocytomas. The chemotherapy agents are given orally or by injection to kill the growing and dividing cells that create the spinal cord tumor. Chemotherapy can be used to attempt to shrink a large astrocytoma to make it operable.

    Other Drugs

    • The astroycytoma, or the treatments for the astrocytoma, may produce swelling in the spinal cord. Doctors often prescribe corticosteroids or steroids to deal with the inflammation and swelling. Drugs may also be prescribed on a long term basis to deal with the pain or swelling caused by astrocytomas.

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