Radiology and pathological correlations of bone tumours of the spine

Abstract

There are a large number of tumour types that affect the musculoskeletal system reflecting the different cellular constituents of bone, bone marrow and of the associated tendons, ligaments and muscles. The incidence of tumour types varies in the spine compared to the appendicular skeleton, reflecting the persistence of haemopoietic marrow in the axial skeleton into adulthood and the epiphyseal growth activity in the appendicular skeleton of children. The embryological development of the spine from the notochord results in tumours specific to the spine and skull. The spine may also be indirectly affected by tumours developing in the spinal cord, meninges and nerve roots that pass through the spinal canal and foramina. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.