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Tumours of the Cervical Spine

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The Management of Disorders of the Child’s Cervical Spine

Abstract

Neoplasms of the cervical spine are uncommon, and benign lesions are predominant in the first two decades of life. Malignant lesions in the paediatric cervical spine are most commonly haematological in origin (i.e. usually secondary to leukaemia). Based on the anatomical area of involvement, they could be broadly differentiated into two groups—those affecting (i) anterior and (ii) posterior bony elements. Based on the neural structures affected, they are broadly categorized into two groups—(i) intradural and (ii) extradural lesions. This chapter provides a concise and comprehensive overview of common paediatric cervical spine tumours with details of clinical presentation, radiological/imaging characteristics, natural history, and evidence-based treatment recommendations. A brief overview of principles of workup, evaluation, and potential complications encountered during the course of treatment is also presented, providing insight to aid relevant healthcare professionals in the management of such challenging and uncommon pathologies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Clydebank, Scotland, UK

    Nanjundappa S. Harshavardhana

  2. Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA

    John P. Dormans

Authors
  1. Nanjundappa S. Harshavardhana
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  2. John P. Dormans
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Correspondence to John P. Dormans .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Daniel J. Hedequist

  2. Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, USA

    Suken A. Shah

  3. Rady’s Children’s Hospital Associate, San Diego, California, USA

    Burt Yaszay

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Harshavardhana, N.S., Dormans, J.P. (2018). Tumours of the Cervical Spine. In: Hedequist, D., Shah, S., Yaszay, B. (eds) The Management of Disorders of the Child’s Cervical Spine. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7491-7_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7491-7_8

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7491-7

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