Neurológia pre prax 4/2009

Histopathology of spinal and spinal cord tumours

Like brain tumours, spinal and spinal cord tumours exhibit a broad histogenetic diversity. They can originate in any anatomical structure in this region. They arise from the spinal cord itself, the spinal roots, the dural sac, or the adjacent hard (bone) or soft tissues. The tumours are topographically classified into extradural and intradural ones that are subdivided into extramedullary and intramedullary. Histologically, they are identical to brain tumours with the same principles of grading. However, their incidence mostly differs from that of identical tumours in the brain. They may be either primary or secondary ones in the form of metastases from virtually any other location in the body.

Keywords: spinal tumours, histopathology.