Difference Between a Spinal Tumor & a Spinal Lesion
Spinal tumors and spinal lesions are different types of disorders that occur in the bones or tissue of the spine. Technically, tumors are a specific type of lesion, although the two terms frequently describe different health problems.
The Facts
A lesion is any abnormal structural change to a body part or organ resulting from disease or injury.
Spinal Lesions
Sources of spinal lesions include tumors, physical injury (trauma), infarction (damage from lack of blood supply) and syrinx (damage from abnormal fluid buildup).
Spinal Tumors
Spinal tumors are malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous) growths that form in the spinal bones (vertebrae) or in or near the spinal cord. Possible signs of spinal tumors include walking difficulties, paralysis, back pain, leg weakness or loss of feeling, spinal deformity and loss of bladder or bowel control.
Lesion-Related Syndromes
There are a number of syndromes caused by spinal lesions other than tumors. These include anterior cord syndrome and Brown-Sequard syndrome, a rare neurological condition characterized by a lesion in the spinal cord.
Considerations
Malignant and benign tumors can trigger life-threatening effects or permanent disabilities.
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