Editing Spinal tumor (section)

==Diagnosis==
=== Medical examination ===
The diagnosis of spinal tumors is challenging, as the symptoms can be non-specific and often mimic more common and benign degenerative spinal diseases. A comprehensive medical examination is necessary to look for signs or symptoms that may point towards a more serious condition. This includes a complete [[Neurological examination|neurological exam]] focusing on any motor or sensory deficits.<ref name=":2" /> Patients with either benign degenerative spinal disease or spinal tumors often present with back pain. A patient with [[radiculopathy]] or [[myelopathy]] raises suspicion for a more serious condition.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bilsky|first=Mark H.|date=2005-11-01|title=New therapeutics in spine metastases|journal=Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics|volume=5|issue=6|pages=831–840|doi=10.1586/14737175.5.6.831|pmid=16274340|s2cid=32071879|issn=1473-7175}}</ref>

=== Imaging ===
Imaging is often the next step when the diagnosis is unclear or there is greater suspicion for a serious condition that may need immediate intervention. Common types of medical imaging include [[X-ray]]s, [[CT scan|computer tomography scan]] (CT), [[Magnetic resonance imaging]] (MRI), [[myelography]], and [[Bone scintigraphy|bone scans]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> MRI is the imaging of choice for spinal tumors.<ref name=":0" /> The MRI protocol that is most frequently used includes [[Relaxation (NMR)|T1-weighted]] and [[Relaxation (NMR)|T2-weighted]] sequences, including contrast enhanced T1-weighted sequences.<ref name=":0" /> [[Magnetic resonance imaging|Short-TI Inversion Recovery]] (STIR) is also commonly added to the MRI protocol for detecting spinal cord tumors.<ref name=":0" /> Myelography may be used as a substitute when the patient cannot undergo an MRI or it is unavailable.<ref name=":0" /> X-rays and CT are more commonly used to view the bony structures.<ref name=":2" /> They are less frequently used for spinal cord tumors, however, since they cannot reliably detect them.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="Segal">{{cite journal|last=Segal D|first=Constantini S. C.|author2=Korn, Lidar|date=14 May 2012|title=Delay In Diagnosis of Primary Intra Dural Spinal Cord Tumors|journal=Surg Neurol Int|volume=3|page=52|doi=10.4103/2152-7806.96075|pmc=3356987|pmid=22629489 |doi-access=free }}</ref> [[Bone scan]]ning may be used as a supplementary imaging modality for tumors involving bony structures of the spine.<ref name=":2" />