Cancer is a disease that cannot be ignored. Moreover, it is important not only to respond to the occurrence of a malignant tumor, but to do it as soon as possible. It is also important to know that often the symptoms of some forms of cancer appear in the back, causing noticeable symptoms. Spinal metastases thus deserve special attention.
Relevance of the problem
The appearance of metastases in the back can be a consequence of the formation of a malignant tumor of the prostate and breast, adrenal glands, kidneys and not only. In fact, in the area of the spine can be any form of cancer.
Sometimes such reactions are possible even several years after the end of treatment. In some cases, such signs - metastases in the spine - can be felt after a twenty-year period of a healthy life. At such moments, relapse of the tumor should be taken very seriously, otherwise an extremely sad outcome is possible.
As for the fact in which part of the spine a secondary cancerous formation will appear, it largely depends on the location of the primary tumor. For example, metastases in the cervical spine symptoms manifest against lymphosarcomas or nasopharyngeal sarcomas. It is also worth knowing that secondary signs can make themselves felt earlier than the main focus. Because of this, in some cases, the initial diagnosis is incorrect, although the fact that the patient is being diagnosed is already positive.
Why is this happening
In general, of all diagnosed tumors, 13% are metastatic neoplasms located in the region of the spinal canal. In this case, the tumors themselves can be located both inside the spinal cord and beyond. In the case of the latter species, the location is possible under the dura mater and above it.
Often it is a secondary lesion of the epidural space that leads to the appearance of compression of the spinal cord in cancer patients. This process is due to the proliferation of the paravertebral tumor through the intervertebral openings.
With a problem such as metastases in the spine, the symptoms can accurately diagnose the effect of the tumor in 90% of cases. Cancer cells enter this area of the body through the blood, and in some cases through the lymphatic paths and the lymph itself.
Key features
No matter what kind of health problem is occurring, she always has symptoms. Spinal metastases indicate that a cancerous tumor develops in the body. There are a number of features that distinguish them from other diseases that form in the back:
- Perhaps the rapid development of complete or partial paralysis;
- the pain manifests itself quickly, and similar sensations in the affected spine do not actually change even after the use of pain medications;
- with a change in body position, the degree of pain increases significantly, which leads to a noticeable limitation of mobility;
- along with other signs of the disease, neurological symptoms such as loss of sensation, numbness and tingling quickly appear.
It should be understood that such a change in the patient's condition can also be accompanied by a significant deterioration in well-being in general. As a result, the patient has rapid weight loss, impaired sleep and appetite. All this indicates metastases in the spine. Symptoms of this kind are difficult to ignore, but sometimes people even in serious condition delay a visit to the doctor. Do not do this, because timely diagnosis and qualified treatment radically affect life expectancy in the case of cancer.
What forecasts can be
Initially, it is worth understanding the fact that the rapid development of symptoms is associated with the rapid progression of metastases. Primary tumor formations grow more slowly (a year or even longer), but with secondary the situation is diametrically opposite.
For this reason, when a diagnosis such as spinal metastases is recorded, the prognosis is often poor. However, it largely depends on the stage of development of the disease. In this regard, it is worth repeating once again the idea that the sooner such a problem as secondary cancers is identified, the greater are the chances of a positive outcome.
Also, a significant role is played by the fact which metastases in the spine are fixed. Symptoms and manifestations that indicate secondary formations of an already removed tumor require special treatment.
Clinical picture
Symptoms may vary depending on the size and number of formations. Spinal metastases are also able to affect the patient’s condition in different ways, developing in certain parts of the spine. This is not surprising, because each vertebra is in close proximity to arteries and nerve roots connected to various organs and parts of the body.
When metastases are observed in the cervical spine, the symptoms are reduced to pain when trying to turn the head or tilt it. Also, due to the compression of the vertebral artery, many patients begin to suffer from headaches and periodic dizziness.
Metastases in the lumbar spine are manifested somewhat differently. Symptoms and changes in the condition require professional diagnosis, since they are very similar to the problems that accompany various kidney diseases.
Sometimes, with such metastases, strong static stress is possible, which can lead to a fracture of compression type vertebrae , which significantly distort posture. But this is not all, such fractures sometimes cause damage to the spinal cord, resulting in partial or complete paralysis of the lower extremities.
When metastases in the thoracic spine are diagnosed , the symptoms generally take the form of discomfort or pain in the area between the shoulder blades. It is worth knowing that this type of manifestation of the tumor becomes noticeable later than the rest, due to the anatomical features of this area.
Radicular disorders
In this case, the occurrence of the so-called radicular pain is implied. They can appear in the cervical region, and sometimes make themselves felt through lumbosacral radiculitis. It all depends on where the lesion is located. In some cases, the shingles of the pain are possible.
There are also positive symptoms of tension and soreness when feeling the spinous processes. Often, such symptoms are accompanied by the formation of zones of reduced and increased sensitivity of the radicular type. This is a lesion of the thoracic and cervical spine. Other symptoms are also possible - metastases in the spine sometimes lead to inhibition of Achilles and knee reflexes.
Sometimes the pain completely takes time, but in most cases this does not mean recovery, but the complete destruction of the initially affected nerve root. Subsequently, when the tumor spreads to other nerve fibers, the pain resumes.
Myelitis syndrome
This condition is a consequence of compression of the spinal cord by a tumor. Such cases often occur with cancer of the prostate, thyroid gland, and with a malignant lesion of the lung and breast.
Compression of this type can be fixed in any part of the spine, but most often the effect on the spinal cord occurs in the thoracic region. Often the degree of pressure increase increases rapidly, but a slow change in the patient's condition is also possible.
In this case, the pain syndrome manifests itself much earlier than other signs. Metastases in the spine can also lead to the development of flaccid paralysis, causing a complete loss of sensitivity of the conductor type. But this only happens with sudden squeezing.
The pain itself is local in nature and is felt in the area of tumor lesions of the spine.
Polyneuropathic syndrome
Such a syndrome is characterized by the development of paresthesias, excessive sweating of the feet and hands, as well as concomitant hyperemia with inhibition of Achilles and knee reflexes and malnutrition. In addition, reduced sensitivity can be fixed by the type of stockings and gloves in the arms and legs.
In 4% of cases of tumor lesions of the spine, intramedullary metastases in the spinal cord make themselves felt.
It is worth knowing about the fact that the diagnosis is most accurately made in patients with radicular or localized pain, as well as with enlargement of the spinal cord and progressive bilateral paresis.
Spinal metastases: symptoms before death
In a neglected state, cancer leads to metabolic disorders, and throughout the body. Local symptoms also increase markedly.
This means that the destruction of the spine at the sites of tumor exposure reaches a critical level. Severe vomiting and nausea, headaches, anemia are also observed.
Near-death symptoms include a change in the rhythm of breathing: it is either quick or almost stops. In severe patients, a decrease or increase in temperature is also significantly lower than the permissible norm. Symptoms of this kind include apathy, indifference and loss of interest in everything that happens.
Also, a person whose death is near, almost does not eat and drinks very little. All this is accompanied by excessive weakness and drowsiness. Hallucinations are possible.
Total
Cancer is a disease whose outcome largely depends on timely diagnosis. Therefore, if any signs resembling metastases in the spine were noticed, you should immediately go to the hospital. If the suspicions are confirmed, then professional treatment can significantly extend the patient's life.