Health condition
Spinal cord tumours
Primary spinal cord tumours - ependymomas, astrocytomas, haemangioblastomas among others - are rare causes of progressive back pain and neurological decline; microsurgical removal with intraoperative monitoring is the mainstay, and outcomes hinge on treating before deficits fix.
Why trust this guide
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Editorial team
Written by our editorial team from the UK sources listed on each page.
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Sourced from guidance
Checked against current NHS and UK specialist society guidance at the time of review.
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Current for 2026
Reviewed on 2026-09-27 with the next review scheduled for 2027-09-27.
Key facts
The essentials at a glance.
The symptoms to recognise, when to seek help, which specialist to see, and what treatment usually involves.
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Night-time back pain with progressive numbness, weakness or bladder change is the warning pattern
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MRI with contrast of the whole spine is the definitive investigation
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Intramedullary tumours are operated with continuous neurophysiological monitoring
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Multiple haemangioblastomas prompt testing for von Hippel-Lindau disease
Understanding the condition
What it is and what happens next.
What causes it, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment routes available in the UK.
What it is and how it feels
Tumours inside the spinal canal are grouped by compartment - within the cord itself (ependymoma, astrocytoma, haemangioblastoma), within the covering membranes (meningioma, schwannoma), or extradural - and each behaves differently. What unites them is presentation: pain that is worse lying down and at night, and neurology that descends slowly enough to be misattributed for months to disc disease or age. Function at the time of surgery strongly predicts function afterward, which is the whole argument against delay.
Diagnosis and treatment routes
Surgery is definitive for most intradural benign tumours and for well-demarcated ependymomas, performed with motor and sensory monitoring that lets the surgeon operate to the tumour’s edge and no further; infiltrative astrocytomas are debulked and radiotherapy added by grade. Rehabilitation is planned from the outset rather than appended. Syndromic associations - VHL with haemangioblastoma, NF2 with ependymoma and schwannoma - mean some diagnoses open a genetic chapter for the whole family. If you are waiting for results or want a second opinion on a proposed plan, a private consultation with a specialist who treats this condition regularly can usually be arranged quickly, and most will review your existing scans, biopsy reports and MDT correspondence.
Seeing a specialist
Who to see, and how quickly you can be seen.
The specialist for this condition is usually a consultant neurosurgeon. Your GP can refer you on the NHS, or you can arrange a private consultation directly.
A quiet reminder
This guide is for information, not medical advice.
Your GP knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, see them - and seek urgent care for any of the emergency symptoms described above.
Frequently asked
Common questions about Spinal cord tumours.
Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.
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What does spinal cord tumours mean?
Spinal cord tumours is a term used for a cancer or cancer-related condition affecting a specific tissue or organ. The exact nature, behaviour and severity vary from person to person, which is why diagnosis and staging by a specialist team are essential.
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What are the risk factors for spinal cord tumours?
The exact cause is often not fully understood, though risk can be influenced by a combination of genetic factors, age, lifestyle factors, and in some cases exposure to specific triggers. Many people affected have no identifiable single cause.
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What are the symptoms of spinal cord tumours?
Symptoms depend on where it is and how advanced it is, and can include a new lump, unexplained pain, unexpected weight loss, fatigue, or changes specific to the affected area. Some cases are picked up incidentally on scans before symptoms appear.
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Is spinal cord tumours serious or dangerous?
This depends heavily on the type, stage and how it responds to treatment — some cases are highly treatable, especially when caught early, while others need more intensive management. Your oncology team will give you a personalised assessment rather than a generic answer.
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Is spinal cord tumours hereditary or genetic?
This depends on the specific condition — some cases have a genetic or familial component, while others are linked more to environmental, lifestyle or other health factors. If you have a relevant family history, it's worth mentioning to your clinician.
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Can spinal cord tumours be cured, reversed or prevented?
Outcomes depend on the type and stage, but many cases respond well to treatment, particularly when identified early. "Cure" isn't always the right framing for every case — your team will discuss realistic goals, whether that's cure, remission, or long-term control.
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What treatment options are available for spinal cord tumours?
Treatment is tailored to the type and stage, and may include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted or immunotherapy, or a combination, decided by a multidisciplinary specialist team.
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How long does spinal cord tumours last, or take to recover from?
This varies significantly by type and stage, and your specialist team will give you a personalised sense of prognosis and expected timelines for treatment and follow-up rather than a general figure.
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When should specialist referral be considered for spinal cord tumours?
Specialist referral is appropriate as soon as this is suspected or confirmed, so that staging and a treatment plan can begin without delay — earlier specialist input generally supports better outcomes.
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When should I see a doctor about spinal cord tumours, and how quickly can I be seen privately?
See a doctor if symptoms are persistent, worsening, or affecting your daily life — earlier assessment generally leads to better management. NHS routine referrals for this kind of concern often take 20–45 weeks or longer depending on the area, while a private consultant can typically see you within about 2 weeks, with faster access to scans and specialist opinion.