U.S.The neck is part of a long flexible column, known as the spinal column or backbone, which extends through most of the body.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.There is also a small risk that the tumor will grow back, requiring a second surgery. In the case of cervical tumor resection, risks include: Risks of Cervical Tumor ResectionĪny surgical procedure carries some risk. Physical activity is typically resumed as patients are able to tolerate it, although they should not resume strenuous activities until they are given medical clearance. Pain management, usually in the form of oral analgesics, may also be needed. Physical and occupational therapy may be necessary during the recovery period to restore the patient's mobility, strength and coordination. Patients who have undergone cervical tumor resection can expect symptom relief, though it may take days or even months. Receive radiation if the tumor was malignant.Refrain from stretching or straining the spine.Wear a neck brace to maintain spinal stability.Walk and begin other everyday movements.Recovery from Cervical Tumor ResectionĪfter cervical tumor resection, patients remain in the hospital for several days. The surgical wound is then covered with a protective gauze bandage. Once the incision is sutured closed, it may be necessary to insert a temporary drain for excess cerebrospinal fluid. The surgeon then separates and removes the tumor (or as much of it as possible) from its adjacent structures using microsurgical techniques the tissue is then biopsied. The laminae, plates of bone that cover the vertebrae, are removed to provide access to the spinal canal. Once an incision has been made in the tissue covering the tumor, the tissue is pulled back to expose the spine. Spinal cord function is monitored before and during the operation. This minimally invasive surgery may be used both to remove a tumor, and to perform a spinal fusion to stabilize the spine.Ī cervical tumor resection is performed under general anesthesia.
Wherever possible, the latter is preferred because it involves smaller incisions, minimal blood loss, less pain, a shorter recovery time and a reduced rate of complications. The procedure may also be performed as traditional open surgery or laparoscopically. Surgery to remove cervical tumors may be performed, depending on the location of the tumor and other factors, with an anterior or posterior approach. Often, such surgery is performed as decompression surgery, during which small amounts of bone are removed from around the spinal cord or nerves in order to relieve pressure, pain and other neurological symptoms.
The goal is to remove, without causing neurological problems, as much of the tumor as possible. Usually, the treatment for benign tumors is surgical removal. Secondary cervical tumors are the result of metastasis, the spreading of malignant cells from an original site somewhere else in the body. The cause of primary cervical tumors remains largely unknown. Whether or not they are malignant, they may require removal before or after nonsurgical treatments in order to reduce pain, preserve or restore neurological function, or provide spinal stability. Primary cervical tumors originate in cells in or near the spine, and involve the spinal cord itself, nerve roots or vertebrae.
There are several different types of cervical spinal tumors.