What Is a Vertebral Tumor? A Plain-Language Guide to Growths in the Bones of the Spine
Medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: October 2026
TL;DR
A vertebral tumor — also called a spinal tumor — is a growth of cells in the bones of the spine, the stacked vertebrae that hold the body upright and protect the spinal cord. These tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Most malignant vertebral tumors are caused by cancer that started somewhere else in the body, most often the breasts, lungs, or prostate, and spread to the spine; tumors that start in the spine itself are rare. Warning signs include constant back pain that worsens at night, weakness, numbness, and loss of bowel or bladder control. Treatment ranges from careful monitoring and surgery to radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and minimally invasive procedures such as vertebroplasty and ablation — and the best choice depends on the tumor's type, whether it is cancerous, and where it sits in the spine.
Quick Answer
What is it? A growth of cells in the vertebrae — the bones of the spine — also called a spinal tumor; it can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
What does it feel like? Back pain in the area of the tumor, pain that shoots into a nearby area, pain that is worse at night, numbness or pins and needles, muscle weakness, and in severe cases loss of movement or bowel and bladder control.
Why does it happen? Most malignant tumors are caused by cancer that started elsewhere (usually the breasts, lungs, or prostate) and spread to the spine; tumors that start in the spine itself are rare and their cause is not clear.
How serious is it? Serious when the tumor presses on the spinal cord or weakens the bones — complications include spinal cord compression and spinal instability, which can cause walking difficulty, weakness, and loss of bladder or bowel control.
How is it treated? Careful monitoring for small or slow-growing tumors; surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, bone cement injections (vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty), and ablation for others.
What the research says
When a spinal metastasis compresses the spinal cord, surgery plus radiation helped more people keep walking than radiation alone. In a randomized trial of 101 patients with spinal cord compression caused by metastatic cancer, 84% (42 of 50) of those who had surgery followed by radiotherapy could walk after treatment, compared with 57% (29 of 51) of those who had radiotherapy alone (odds ratio 6.2, 95% CI 2.0 to 19.8). Those who had surgery also kept the ability to walk longer (median 122 days vs 13 days). (Patchell et al., Lancet, 2005)
Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) may give more complete pain relief than conventional radiotherapy. A meta-analysis of 3 randomized trials (642 patients with spinal metastases) found no difference in overall pain response, but complete pain response was higher with SBRT at 3 months (risk ratio 2.52, 95% CI 1.58 to 4.01), with no significant difference in local progression or overall survival. (Wong et al., Radiother Oncol, 2023)
Spine SBRT showed high pain-response and local-control rates with low rates of serious harm. Across 69 studies covering 7,236 metastases in 5,736 patients, the pooled overall pain response was 83% (95% CI 68% to 94%), the 1-year local control rate was 94% (95% CI 86% to 99%), the vertebral fracture rate was 9%, and radiation-induced myelopathy was 0% (95% CI 0% to 2%), though results varied widely between studies. (Guninski et al., Radiother Oncol, 2023)
What Is a Vertebral Tumor?
A vertebral tumor is a growth of cells that happens in the bones of the spine. A vertebral tumor also is called a spinal tumor.
The bones of the spine are called the vertebrae. The spine is made up of many small vertebrae stacked on top of one another. The vertebrae hold the body upright. They enclose and protect the spinal cord.
Vertebral tumors can be cancerous or not cancerous. A noncancerous vertebral tumor also is called a benign vertebral tumor. Vertebral tumors that are cancerous are called malignant vertebral tumors.
Most malignant vertebral tumors are caused by cancer that starts somewhere else in the body and spreads to the spine. Cancer that spreads from an organ to another part of the body is called metastatic cancer. Cancers that affect the blood cells and bone marrow also can cause malignant vertebral tumors.
Vertebral tumors that start in the bones of the spine and haven't spread from somewhere else are rare. Another name for these tumors is primary bone tumors.
Treatment for vertebral tumors includes surgery, radiation therapy and medicines, including chemotherapy. Small and slow-growing vertebral tumors might not need treatment right away. The treatment that's best for your vertebral tumor depends on your situation — your healthcare team considers the type of tumor you have, whether it is cancerous and its location within the spine.
What Does a Vertebral Tumor Feel Like?
Signs and symptoms of vertebral tumors include:
Warning sign | What it means |
Back pain in the area of the tumor | The most common early sign |
Back pain that radiates or shoots | Pain spreading from the back to a nearby area |
Back pain that's worse at night | A pattern that deserves attention |
Changes in sensation | Numbness or a feeling of pins and needles |
Loss of the ability to move | Losing the ability to move part of the body |
Loss of bladder and bowel control | Losing control over the bladder and bowels |
Muscle weakness | Weakness in the muscles |
How Is Vertebral Tumor Back Pain Different From Ordinary Back Pain?
Some vertebral tumor symptoms are similar to symptoms caused by other conditions. Back pain is very common, and most back pain isn't caused by a tumor. But certain patterns deserve a doctor's attention.
Make an appointment if:
The pain is constant and is getting worse.
The pain doesn't seem to be caused by a certain activity.
The pain is worse at night.
You have a history of cancer and the back pain is something new.
Seek immediate medical care if you have back pain along with muscle weakness in the arms or legs, loss of control of the bowel or bladder, or numbness or tingling in the genital area.
Why Do Tumors Grow in the Spine?
Most vertebral tumors are caused by cancer that starts somewhere else in the body. Any cancer can spread to the spine, and most vertebral tumors are caused by cancer that spreads from the breasts, lungs or prostate. Other cancers that tend to spread to the spine include kidney cancer and thyroid cancer.
Cancers that affect the blood cells and bone marrow also can cause vertebral tumors. These cancers include multiple myeloma and lymphoma.
Vertebral tumors that start in the spine are rare, and it's not clear what causes them. They happen when cells in the bones of the spine develop changes in their DNA.
Step | What happens |
Normal instruction | A cell's DNA holds the instructions that tell the cell what to do — grow and multiply at a set rate, and die at a set time |
DNA changes | In tumor cells, the DNA changes give different instructions |
Fast growth | The changes tell the tumor cells to make many more cells quickly |
No normal death | Tumor cells can keep living when healthy cells would die |
Too many cells | This causes too many cells — a tumor |
Sometimes cells develop changes in their DNA that turn them into cancer cells. Cancer cells can invade and destroy healthy body tissue. They can break away and spread to other parts of the body.
What Types of Tumors Can Start in the Spine?
Examples of vertebral tumors that start in the spine and aren't cancerous include hemangioma, osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, aneurysmal bone cyst, osteochondroma, enchondroma, and chondroblastoma.
Examples of vertebral tumors that start in the spine and are cancerous include chondrosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, and chordoma.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
The risk of vertebral tumors is higher in people who have cancer or have been treated for cancer. Most vertebral tumors are caused by cancer that starts somewhere else in the body and spreads to the spine — most often starting in the breasts, lungs or prostate.
What Complications Can Vertebral Tumors Cause?
Complications caused by vertebral tumors include spinal cord compression and spinal instability.
Complication | How it happens | What it can cause |
Spinal cord compression | A tumor grows to press on the spinal cord or nearby nerves | Back pain at first; later weakness and numbness in the body part controlled by the affected nerves; difficulty walking; loss of bladder and bowel control |
Spinal instability | A tumor weakens the bones in the spine | Weakened bones can break or go out of alignment, making it hard for the spine to hold the body upright; typically causes pain and can lead to weakness |
Treatments may help prevent or treat these complications.
How Is a Vertebral Tumor Diagnosed?
Diagnosis typically starts with a physical exam and questions about your symptoms. Imaging tests can show the size and location of the tumor. A sample of tissue might be removed from the tumor and tested in a lab to make the diagnosis.
What Happens During the Exam?
Your healthcare professional might start by asking about your symptoms and your health history. If you have cancer or have been treated for cancer in the past, tell your healthcare professional — knowing your complete health history helps in understanding your symptoms.
The health professional may examine your body, checking your spine for painful spots and other concerning symptoms. This assessment also might include a neurological exam, which tests different parts of your body to understand how your nerves are working. The health professional may check your balance, coordination, strength and reflexes.
What Imaging Tests Are Used?
Imaging tests make pictures of the body and can show the location and size of a vertebral tumor. They might include an X-ray, MRI, CT scan, or positron emission tomography (PET) scan.
What Is a Biopsy?
A biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of tissue for testing in a lab. For vertebral tumors, the tissue is often removed using a thin needle. The needle goes through the skin and into the tumor. A healthcare professional uses an imaging test, such as a CT scan, to guide the needle to the right spot and draws out a sample of the tumor cells.
The biopsy sample goes to a lab for testing. Tests can show the type of tumor and whether it is cancerous. Other special tests give more details, and your healthcare team uses these results to make a treatment plan.
Determining the kind of biopsy you need and how to do it requires careful planning. Healthcare professionals need to perform the biopsy in a way that won't interfere with future surgery to remove the tumor. For this reason, ask for a referral to a healthcare team with extensive experience in treating vertebral tumors before your biopsy.
How Is a Vertebral Tumor Treated?
Treatments for vertebral tumors include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy and other medicines. Other options might include minimally invasive procedures to hurt the tumor cells or stabilize the bones in the spine. Not every vertebral tumor needs treatment. Sometimes careful monitoring can watch a vertebral tumor to see if it grows.
Your healthcare team considers many factors when creating your treatment plan: the type of vertebral tumor you have and its location, your overall health, and your preferences.
When Is Careful Monitoring Enough?
Many vertebral tumors are found before they cause symptoms. They might not need treatment right away — your healthcare team might carefully monitor the tumor to see if it grows. Some vertebral tumors never require treatment. Careful monitoring might be the right approach for small tumors that aren't cancerous, and also for slow-growing tumors that aren't causing symptoms.
When Is Surgery Used?
The goal of surgery is to remove all of the vertebral tumor. Surgeons take care not to hurt the spinal cord or surrounding nerves during surgery.
Sometimes it's not possible to remove all of the tumor. In these situations, the surgeon might remove as much of the tumor as possible. Other treatments might be used after surgery to hurt any tumor cells that are left — options might include radiation, chemotherapy or ablation treatments.
Surgery also might be used to relieve symptoms caused by a vertebral tumor. If the tumor causes pain that isn't relieved by other treatments, or if the tumor presses on the spinal cord, surgery might help provide relief.
What Is Vertebroplasty?
Vertebroplasty is a treatment that injects bone cement into a cracked or weakened spinal bone. A similar procedure is called kyphoplasty. These procedures might help strengthen a bone that's weakened by a tumor, and they can help relieve pain.
What Are Ablation Treatments?
Ablation is a procedure that applies treatment directly to the tumor cells in order to hurt them.
Ablation type | How it works |
Radiofrequency ablation | Applies energy that heats the tumor cells |
Microwave ablation | Applies energy that heats the tumor cells |
Cryoablation | Uses extreme cold to hurt the tumor cells |
Alcohol ablation | Uses alcohol to hurt the tumor cells |
What Role Does Radiation Therapy Play?
Radiation therapy treats tumors with powerful energy beams. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources.
For vertebral tumors, radiation therapy may be used after surgery to hurt any tumor cells that might be left. When surgery isn't an option, radiation therapy might be used instead. Radiation therapy also is used to help relieve symptoms caused by a vertebral tumor — it can slow the growth of a vertebral tumor and relieve pain.
Healthcare teams take great care to aim the radiation to the exact spot needed to control the tumor, working to limit how much radiation reaches nearby organs, including the spinal cord. This helps reduce the risk of complications. Types of radiation therapy that can help in this way include stereotactic body radiotherapy and proton beam radiation therapy.
What Role Do Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy Play?
Chemotherapy treats cancer with strong medicines. This therapy might be an option for the treatment of cancerous vertebral tumors, and it can help slow the growth of the cancer. Most vertebral tumors that aren't cancerous don't respond to chemotherapy treatments.
Targeted therapy medicines also may be an option for treating cancerous vertebral tumors. Targeted therapy is a treatment that uses medicines that attack specific chemicals in the cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, targeted treatments can cause cancer cells to die. Your cancer cells may be tested to see if targeted therapy is likely to help you.
What Specialists Care for Vertebral Tumors?
If you have a vertebral tumor, you'll likely be referred to specialists. Those who care for people with vertebral tumors include neurologists (doctors who diagnose and treat brain and spinal cord conditions), neurosurgeons (surgeons who operate on the brain and spinal cord), orthopedic oncologists (doctors who diagnose and treat tumors that affect the bones), orthopedic surgeons (surgeons who operate on bones and joints), radiation oncologists (doctors who use radiation to treat cancers and tumors), and medical oncologists (doctors who use medicine to treat cancer).
What Can Help You Cope?
No alternative medicine treatments have been found to cure vertebral tumors, but some treatments used along with the treatments from your healthcare team may help you cope. These include art therapy, exercise, meditation, music therapy, and relaxation exercises. Talk with your healthcare team about your options.
Beyond that, three practical steps help. First, find out all you can about your specific vertebral tumor — write down your questions and bring them to your appointments, and take notes as your healthcare professional answers, or ask a friend or family member to come along. The more you and your family know about your care, the more confident you'll feel when it's time to make treatment decisions. Second, get support — find someone you can share your feelings with, whether a close friend, family member, clergy member, or counselor. Third, take care of yourself — choose a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains whenever possible, check with your healthcare professional about when you can start exercising again, get enough sleep, and reduce stress with relaxing activities such as listening to music or writing in a journal.
The Bottom Line
A vertebral tumor is a growth of cells in the bones of the spine — sometimes benign, sometimes malignant, and in most malignant cases the result of cancer that started somewhere else and spread to the spine. The warning signs hide inside everyday back pain, but constant pain that worsens at night, pain not linked to any activity, and pain that arrives with a cancer history are all reasons to see a doctor, while weakness, numbness in the genital area, and loss of bowel or bladder control demand immediate care. Diagnosis moves from exam and imaging to a carefully planned biopsy, and treatment is matched to the tumor's type, cancer status, and location — from careful monitoring for small or slow-growing tumors to surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, bone cement injections, and ablation. Because complications such as spinal cord compression and spinal instability can be serious, early evaluation and an experienced care team are the best protection for your spine and your mobility.
Take the Next Step
If your back pain is constant, getting worse, worse at night, or new after a cancer diagnosis — or if it comes with weakness, numbness, or bladder and bowel changes — make an appointment with your healthcare team right away. And seek immediate medical care for weakness in your arms or legs, loss of bowel or bladder control, or numbness in the genital area. With early diagnosis and an experienced team, many vertebral tumors can be controlled or treated before they threaten your spine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vertebral tumor?
A vertebral tumor is a growth of cells that happens in the bones of the spine, which are called the vertebrae. It is also called a spinal tumor. The tumor can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Is a vertebral tumor always cancer?
No. Vertebral tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or not cancerous (benign). Examples of benign tumors that start in the spine include hemangioma and osteoid osteoma, while examples of cancerous ones include chondrosarcoma and osteosarcoma.
Where do most malignant vertebral tumors come from?
Most malignant vertebral tumors are caused by cancer that starts somewhere else in the body and spreads to the spine — called metastatic cancer. The most common sources are the breasts, lungs, and prostate, with kidney and thyroid cancers also tending to spread to the spine.
Are tumors that start in the spine itself common?
No — vertebral tumors that start in the bones of the spine and haven't spread from somewhere else (called primary bone tumors) are rare, and it's not clear what causes them.
Why does a vertebral tumor cause back pain?
The growth itself can hurt, and the pain often worsens at night. Tumor cells develop changes in their DNA that tell them to multiply quickly and keep living when healthy cells would die, so the tumor grows and presses on surrounding tissue.
How is vertebral tumor back pain different from regular back pain?
Most back pain isn't caused by a tumor, but you should see a doctor if the pain is constant and getting worse, isn't caused by a certain activity, is worse at night, or is new and you have a history of cancer.
When should I seek immediate medical care?
Seek immediate medical care if you have back pain along with muscle weakness in the arms or legs, loss of control of the bowel or bladder, or numbness or tingling in the genital area.
What complications can a vertebral tumor cause?
The main complications are spinal cord compression — when the tumor presses on the spinal cord or nearby nerves, causing weakness, numbness, walking difficulty, and loss of bladder or bowel control — and spinal instability, when the tumor weakens the bones so they can break or go out of alignment.
Does every vertebral tumor need treatment?
No. Many are found before they cause symptoms, and careful monitoring — watching to see if the tumor grows — can be the right approach for small or slow-growing tumors that aren't causing problems. Some vertebral tumors never require treatment.
What is vertebroplasty, and how does it help?
Vertebroplasty injects bone cement into a cracked or weakened spinal bone, and a similar procedure is called kyphoplasty. These procedures can strengthen a bone weakened by a tumor and help relieve pain.
What is ablation?
Ablation is a procedure that applies treatment directly to the tumor cells to hurt them. Energy that heats the cells is used in radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation; extreme cold is used in cryoablation; and alcohol may be used in other cases.
How is a vertebral tumor diagnosed?
Diagnosis starts with a physical exam and questions about symptoms, often including a neurological exam that tests balance, coordination, strength, and reflexes. Imaging tests such as X-ray, MRI, CT scan, and PET scan show the tumor's size and location, and a needle biopsy removes a tissue sample for lab testing to determine the tumor type and whether it is cancerous.
Which doctors treat vertebral tumors?
A team of specialists may be involved: neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic oncologists, orthopedic surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists — doctors with deep experience in the brain, spinal cord, bones, radiation, and cancer medicines.
References
Mayo Clinic Staff. Vertebral tumor: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Last updated November 21, 2024. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vertebral-tumor/symptoms-causes/syc-20350123
Mayo Clinic Staff. Vertebral tumor: Diagnosis and treatment. Mayo Clinic. Last updated November 21, 2024. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vertebral-tumor/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350127
Patchell RA, Tibbs PA, Regine WF, et al. Direct decompressive surgical resection in the treatment of spinal cord compression caused by metastatic cancer: a randomised trial. Lancet. 2005;366(9486):643-648. PMID: 16112300. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)66954-1
Wong HCY, Lee SF, Chan AW, et al. Stereotactic body radiation therapy versus conventional external beam radiotherapy for spinal metastases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Radiother Oncol. 2023;189:109914. PMID: 37739318. DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.109914
Guninski RS, Cuccia F, Alongi F, et al. Efficacy and safety of SBRT for spine metastases: a systematic review and meta-analysis for preparation of an ESTRO practice guideline. Radiother Oncol. 2023;190:109969. PMID: 37922993. DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.109969
Disclaimer: This guide is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here. Seek immediate medical care for back pain with muscle weakness in the arms or legs, loss of bowel or bladder control, or numbness or tingling in the genital area.
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