Oncological principles in spinal tumor surgery

Surgical intervention remains the cornerstone of the treatment of patients with spinal tumors. The presented literature review includes also the authors’ personal experience in the treatment of tumors. Pain relief, local control of a neoplasm growth and preservation of body functions are the main goals of this pathology treatment. Treatment of spinal tumors is based on the biology, location and extent of the neoplasm. If surgical treatment is indicated, en-bloc resection is the preferred method. This operation is based on the complete removal of the tumor in a single block entirely covered by a shell of healthy tissue. This surgical procedure can be challenging due to the proximity of the neural structures. Moreover, achieving clean resection margin around the tumor often requires the sacrifice of adjacent anatomic structures. A more comprehensive approach requires a combination of surgery, systemic therapy and radiotherapy to improve outcomes in patients with advanced spinal tumors. The fulfillment of oncological principles is fundamental to achieving best treatment outcomes for spinal tumors.