Dumbbell tumor
What is it?
Dumbbell tumor is any tumor that is constricted in the middle, giving it the shape of a dumbbell. In the spine, dumbbell tumors consist of one part of the tumor inside the spinal canal and another outside the spinal canal. The narrow section connecting these two parts passes through an opening in the spinal column called the neural foramen.
Many kinds of tumors can be dumbbell-shaped:
- spinal nerve sheath tumors
- spinal schwannoma
- spinal neurofibroma
- spinal ganglioneuroma
- neuroblastoma
- spinal meningioma
Most dumbbell tumors are benign. Treatment plan depends on the type of tumor. Nearly all dumbbell tumors can be safely surgically removed.
Symptoms
When one section of a growing dumbbell tumor compresses the spinal cord or a nerve, spinal cord or nerve damage can occur. Symptoms can include pain, numbness, weakness, clumsiness, difficulty walking, or incontinence. Exact symptoms depend on the size and location of the tumor.
Diagnosis
Dumbbell-shaped tumors are commonly diagnosed using imaging studies that give the best information about soft tissue tumors like CT computed tomography or MR (magnetic resonance).
Treatment
Microsurgery using an operating microscope and fine surgical instruments is the treatment of choice for nearly all dumbbell tumors. Depending on the size and location of the tumor, the neurosurgeon will choose from a variety of microsurgical techniques and approaches. Most dumbbell tumors can be safely removed using standard microsurgical techniques. The surgeon may need to remove some bone to access the tumor, in a procedure called a laminectomy. To maintain spinal stability, a spinal fusion may then need to be performed.