Spinal cord lipomas are most commonly diagnosed in children. These are benign dysembryogenetic (resulting from intrauterine development disorders) neoplasms with a soft and elastic consistency. They constantly grow and cause neurological damage, which is at first temporary but, if left untreated, will become irreversible. You can get rid of this tumor at one of the Spine Surgery Centers abroad. You are welcome to use the Booking Health service to find out the cost of treatment at different hospitals and countries and choose the best medical care program.
Content
- How dangerous are spinal cord lipomas?
- Principles of surgical treatment of spinal cord lipomas
- Spinal cord lipoma removal options
- Why to undergo your spinal cord lipoma treatment abroad?
How dangerous are spinal cord lipomas?
A spinal cord lipoma is a congenital disease. In its natural course, the condition leads to severe neurological symptoms, including paresis and loss of bladder control. With a timely surgical intervention, further progression of the disease and the patient's disability can be prevented.
Lipomas account for up to 11% of all congenital malformations of the spinal cord and up to 1% of spinal cord tumors. If the neoplasm develops in the lumbar spine and in the medullary cone, the clinical manifestations will be minimal. The tumor is soft, it grows slowly, and it has enough space for growth in these areas. If lipomas appear in the thoracic spine, they cause severe neurological symptoms associated with spinal cord compression.
The following are the most severe problems that can arise if lipoma treatment is delayed:
- abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis);
- muscle weakness and then paralysis;
- urinary and fecal incontinence;
- loss of sensation below the level of a spinal cord injury.
Principles of surgical treatment of spinal cord lipomas
Surgery is the only treatment for a lipoma. Early surgical resection is indicated even for patients with minimal clinical manifestations, as they will inevitably progress. In addition, if you delay your treatment, the symptoms will become irreversible, which means that they will not disappear even after surgery.
Even if a patient has no symptoms, doctors will still suggest removing the tumor as the lipoma inevitably progresses. The risk of developing symptoms is 40% within 10 years of follow-up monitoring. The symptoms will manifest themselves in almost all patients, even if this happens in a longer time frame.
When performing the surgical resection, doctors seek to separate the fibro-fatty mass from normal tissue and restore the normal anatomy of the spinal cord. As a result of surgery, more than half of patients experience pain relief, improved mobility, reduced sensory disturbances, and improved bladder control.
Spinal cord lipoma removal options
Doctors at the Centers for Surgery of the Spine abroad use the following options for removing spinal cord lipomas:
- classical surgical resection of lipomas with mechanical instruments;
- ultrasound-guided destruction followed by aspiration (destruction and suction) involves the removal of the tumor's adipose component, significantly reducing its volume (but leaving the fibrous component intact);
- laser vaporization (evaporation of the tumor with a laser);
- traction bipolar coagulation (the tumor is excised under tension using a bipolar coagulator as a tool for dissecting tissues).
Tumor removal can be total or partial. Total lipoma resection is more preferable, as it allows doctors to remove the spinal cord lipoma once and for all. In this case, the risk of the disease recurring is minimal.
Partial removal of the lipoma usually results in its recurrence. Half of patients experience symptoms within the first 10 years after such surgery. Partial removal, however, has its advantages. The operation can be performed using a more sparing technique through short incisions and without removing the vertebral arches. When performing partial lipoma resection, doctors often use different energies, such as laser or ultrasound. If the tumor starts to grow again, the minimally invasive procedure can be repeated.
Microsurgical resection is a more reliable treatment option for spinal cord lipomas. Doctors can remove the tumor completely, and it will never recur. This operation, however, is more traumatic. Doctors have to perform a laminectomy, during which they will remove the spinous processes and vertebral arches to approach the spinal cord. These patients remain at risk for spinal instability. The stabilization of the spine requires rigid fixation of two adjacent vertebrae or implantation of a dynamic stabilization system.
Why to undergo your spinal cord lipoma treatment abroad?
You can undergo your spinal cord lipoma resection abroad, at one of the best Spinal Surgery Centers. The Booking Health website presents leading hospitals in Europe and the world that admit foreign patients. On our website, you can find out the cost of treatment for different diseases of the spine and brain to choose a medical care program at the best price.
Treatment abroad has the following benefits:
- accurate diagnostics allow for choosing the optimal time for surgery and determining the surgical tactics;
- microsurgical resection can be performed reliably and safely by experienced specialists;
- successful treatment of children of any age, including newborns;
- minimal incisions to keep the spine stable;
- implantation of dynamic spinal stabilization systems to avoid the development of any diseases in the adjacent spinal segments, if necessary;
- surgery under neuromonitoring guidance and intraoperative medical imaging to reduce the risk of complications and completely remove spinal cord lipomas;
- ultrasound or laser can be used to perform minimally invasive lipoma removal;
- full neurological rehabilitation after surgery will help you recover faster and get rid of neurological deficits.
You are welcome to make an appointment for your treatment abroad through the Booking Health service. In this case, the cost of treatment for you will be lower than when you contact the hospital directly. The price will be reduced due to the absence of taxes for foreign patients. The specialists from the Booking Health company will help you select a hospital and arrange your trip.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
National Spine Health Foundation
Verywell Health
MedlinePlus
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