spinal cord tumor, a neoplasm of the spinal cord of which more than 50% are extramedullary, about 25% are intramedullary, and the rest are extradural. Symptoms depend on the location and rate of growth of the tumor. They usually develop slowly and may progress from unilateral paresthesia and a dull ache to lancinating pain; weakness in one or both legs; abnormal deep tendon reflexes; and, in advanced cases, monoplegia, hemiplegia, or paraplegia. Function of the autonomic nervous system is sometimes disturbed, causing areas of dry, cold, bluish pink skin or profuse sweating of the lower extremities. The diagnosis is made by radiographic and myelographic examination. About 30% of spinal cord tumors are circumscribed, encapsulated meningiomas, and 25% are schwannomas; these two kinds are found chiefly in the thoracic region. Some 20% are gliomas, and the others consist of congenital lipomas, epidermoids, and metastatic lesions. The dura is resistant to invasion, but many extradural tumors are metastatic lesions from primary cancers in the prostate, lung, breast, thyroid, and GI tract. Most extramedullary and nonmetastatic extradural tumors are surgically removed; intermedullary lesions are enucleated, whenever possible; inoperable tumors are treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Tumors of the spinal cord may arise at any age but appear most frequently in the third decade of life and are one fourth as common as brain neoplasms. Nursing care of the patient with a spinal cord tumor involves careful assessment and reporting of motor and sensory status.
