What is Spinal Cord Haemangiopericytoma?
Spinal cord haemangiopericytoma is a rare type of tumour arising from the pericapillary or peracetic cells of the blood capillaries of the spinal cord. These are the cells lining the inner wall of the capillaries. It is a rare type of tumour and can develop in any body part of the blood capillaries. Haemangiopericytoma usually develops in muscles, bones, and skin but rarely develops in the brain and spinal cord.Disease Causes
There is no well-known cause; however certain hereditary and genetic conditions along with environmental exposures to certain pesticides or vinyl chloride can contribute to the development of haemangiopericytoma of the spinal cord.Signs and Symptoms
The patient may suffer from the following signs and symptoms. These are- Pain in the back
- Swelling in the affected region of the spinal cord
- Numbness and weakness of the arms or legs
- Weakness in one or both sides of the body
- Difficulty in walking and writing, loss of voluntary control of muscles
Diagnosis
The following diagnostic tests and procedures can be used to make a diagnosis. These are;- Imaging techniques like Chest X-ray, CT-scan, MRI, and PET scan to see the site, size, and extent of the tumour.
- Tumour biopsy (tumour biopsy to remove a small sample of tissue for histopathological examination)
- USG-guided fine needle aspiration cytology