Symptoms

• Back pain that occurs in the mid-back area is the most common symptom of a thoracic tumor. This pain may become worse when the patient is active, the pain level may grow worse at night or it may be at its most severe when the patient is resting. Other symptoms that often occur with a thoracic spinal tumor include spinal deformities, slight paralysis, numbness, radiating pain or fever.
  
  

Benign Tumors That Affect Children

• A benign thoracic spinal tumor is one that is noncancerous. An osteochondroma is one type of benign tumor that affects the spine's cartilage. An osteoid osteoma is a tumor composed of spinal bone tissue. An osteoblastoma is a large, painful type of tumor that is most often aggressive; it can lead to paralysis and spinal deformities. An aneurysmal bone cyst is a type of tumor containing blood-filled cavities that often causes swelling and pain and can get quite large in size. A giant cell tumor (GCT) doesn't often develop in the thoracic region, but when it does it can cause significant pain. An eosinophilic granuloma is a type of tumor that occurs in the vertebrae of the spine; these sometimes heal on their own.
  
  

Benign Tumors That Affect Adults

• Adults are less vulnerable to benign thoracic spinal tumors. The GCT that affects children can also affect young adults. A hemangioma is a tumor type that exclusively affects adults. These are considered progressive vascular masses. They can lead to slight paralysis and a collapsing of the spinal bones.
  
  

Malignant Tumors That Affect Children

• Malignant thoracic spinal tumors are a form of cancerous tumor. Ewing's sarcoma is a malignant tumor that affects children and is considered aggressive; it may spread to other parts of the body. Another malignant example is an osteosarcoma, which develops in the spinal bones.
  
  

Malignant Tumors That Affect Adults

• Cancerous thoracic spinal tumors are more often seen in adults. A plasmacytoma is a type of tumor that tends to affect the bones of the spine, and it can lead to slight paralysis. The aggressive Ewing's sarcomas affect adults too. Lymphomas are malignant and formed of lymphoid tissue. Chondrosarcomas attack middle-aged adults and affect the cartilage of the spine. They tend to grow slowly, but are considered quite dangerous. Osteosarcomas attack adults as well as children. A chondoma is a tumor that affects the spinal bones, particularly the sacrum, and often needs to be treated aggressively.