Benign Intradural Tumour Resection Surgery 

Coming Soon! This procedure will soon be available at our Toronto facility. 

At Surgical Solutions Network, our fellowship-trained spine surgeons perform benign intradural tumour resection surgery (benign spinal tumour surgery) in Toronto using advanced techniques, including minimally invasive approaches where suitable, to help patients alleviate discomfort and improve their quality of life. 

What is Benign Spinal Tumour Surgery?

Benign spinal tumour surgery is a type of spine surgery used to remove non-cancerous tumours that grow inside the spinal canal, beneath the dura (the protective covering around the spinal cord and nerves) but outside the spinal cord itself. These are often referred to as intradural extramedullary tumours. 

The most common benign intradural tumours are: 

• Meningiomas (from the membranes around the spinal cord) 
• Nerve sheath tumours, such as schwannomas and neurofibromas 
• Certain ependymomas and other rare benign lesions 

As these tumours enlarge, they can compress the spinal cord and nerve roots, causing pain, numbness, weakness, and difficulty walking. Benign intradural tumour resection surgery aims to remove the tumour, relieve pressure on the nerves and spinal cord, improve symptoms, and prevent further neurological decline. 

What Does Benign Intradural Tumour Resection Treat?

Benign intradural tumour resection may be recommended for: 

• Spinal meningiomas 
• Schwannomas and neurofibromas of the spinal nerve roots 
• Certain ependymomas 
• Other benign intradural extramedullary tumours that present symptoms or show growth on imaging 

What Symptoms Should You Be Aware Of?

Benign tumours can occur anywhere along the spine (neck, mid-back, or low back). Symptoms depend on location, but may include: 

• Persistent neck or back pain 
• Shooting pain along a nerve into the arm, chest, abdomen, or leg 
• Numbness, tingling, or “pins and needles” 
• Weakness or heaviness in the arms or legs 
• Difficulty with balance or walking 
• Changes in bladder or bowel control (in more advanced cases) 

Your surgeon will correlate your MRI or CT scans with your symptoms and examination to confirm that the tumour is the likely source of your problems. 

What Happens During Benign Spinal Tumour Surgery?

Technique varies depending on tumour type, size, and location, but the procedure typically includes these steps:  

1. Anaesthesia and positioning: You receive general anaesthesia, so you are fully asleep and comfortable. You are positioned (usually face-down) on a specialized operating table that protects pressure points and allows safe access to the spine. 
2. Exposure of the spine: A skin incision is made over the affected spinal level(s). Your surgeon may perform a minimally invasive hemilaminectomy, interlaminar approach, laminoplasty, or traditional laminectomy (removal or partial opening of the vertebral bone) to access the spinal canal. Minimally invasive techniques preserve spinal stability and result in faster recovery. 
3. Opening the dura and identifying the tumour:
   The dura is carefully opened under an operating microscope.
   The tumour is identified and gently separated from the spinal cord and surrounding nerves.
   Intraoperative neuromonitoring (to track spinal cord and nerve function) is often used to enhance safety. 
4. Tumour removal (resection): Your surgeon removes the tumour as completely as is safely possible. For many benign intradural tumours, gross total resection (complete removal) is achievable, with reported rates above 80% in large series. 
5. Closure and stabilisation:
   The dura is closed to protect the spinal cord and nerves.
   If a significant amount of bone or joint has been removed or there is pre-existing instability, instrumentation and fusion (screws and rods) may be added to stabilise the spine.
   Muscles and skin are closed, and a dressing is applied.  

A hospital stay typically lasts several days, depending on the complexity of the surgery and your neurological status. 

Benefits of Benign Intradural Tumour Resection

For appropriately selected patients, benign intradural tumour resection offers:

• Relief of spinal cord and nerve compression 
• Improvement or stabilisation of neurological function, including strength, sensation, and walking ability 
• Reduction in pain, often with substantial improvement in quality of life 
• Prevention of further deterioration, which can occur as tumours grow 
• In many benign cases, long-term control or cure, particularly when the tumour is completely removed 

Outcomes are generally favourable, especially when surgery is performed before severe or long-standing spinal cord injury. 

Who’s a Good Candidate?

You may be considered an ideal candidate for benign spinal tumour surgery if: 

• Imaging (MRI, sometimes CT) shows a benign-appearing intradural extramedullary tumour compressing the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. 
• You have significant or progressive symptoms, such as pain, weakness, numbness, balance problems, or bladder/bowel changes. 
• The tumour is growing on follow-up imaging or already causing substantial compression. 
• You are medically fit for surgery. 

Your spine surgeon will review your imaging and overall health and discuss whether benign tumor resection surgery, another type of spine surgery, or non-operative care best suits your needs. 

Why Choose Surgical Solutions Network?

Through our national network of accredited surgical centres, Surgical Solutions Network offers: 

• Experienced spine and neurosurgical teams with expertise in intradural tumour surgery 
• Advanced imaging, microsurgical, and neuromonitoring technologies designed to enhance safety and precision 
• Coordinated, patient-centred care from consultation through surgery and rehabilitation 
• Timely access to specialist care, reducing delays that can lead to further neurological decline 

Your surgeon will work closely with you and your referring physician to create a treatment plan aligned with your symptoms, imaging findings, and personal goals. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are benign intradural tumours cancerous? 

Most intradural extramedullary tumours treated with this surgery are non-cancerous (benign) and do not spread to distant parts of the body. They can, however, cause serious problems by compressing the spinal cord and nerves, which is why treatment is often recommended. 

Will the tumour come back after surgery? 

For many benign tumours that are completely removed, the risk of recurrence is low but not zero. Your surgeon will usually recommend periodic follow-up imaging to monitor the surgical site over time. 

Will I need radiation or other treatments after surgery? 

Most benign intradural tumours do not require radiation or chemotherapy after complete resection. In selected cases (for example, when only a partial removal is safe or if a genetic condition is present), additional treatments may be discussed. 

How long will it take to notice improvement? 

Pain from nerve compression may improve relatively quickly. Weakness, numbness, or walking difficulties may recover more slowly—over weeks to months—and may not fully return to normal if the spinal cord has been compressed for an extended period. 

Take the Next Step 

If you have been diagnosed with a benign intradural spinal tumour or are experiencing symptoms such as back or neck pain, weakness, or difficulty walking due to spinal cord compression, we’re here to help. 
  
Contact Surgical Solutions Network, or call us at (888) 888-4250. A member of our care coordination team will guide you through your next steps and assist you in booking a spine surgery consultation with us in Toronto.