Tumours of the nervous system, whether benign or malignant, occupy space as well as destroy tissue locally. Clinically, they often present because of their 'mass' effect.

• Spinal cord tumours are less frequent than brain tumours (approximately 1:4), and are usually benign producing symptoms of compression rather than invasion
• Clinical presentation
• Types:
  • benign: neurofibromatosis
  • malignant: astrocytoma, meningioma, metastatic, medulloblastoma, neurofibroma, ependymoma, sarcoma & others
• Tumour origins
  • intramedullary - most common: ependymomas, astrocytomas
  • extramedullary - most common: neurofibroma, meningioma
• Location: intradural, extradural, cauda equina