Type of Tumor | Origin | Cancer Status |
---|---|---|
Astrocytoma | Cells of the tissue that supports nerve cells | Cancerous |
Chordoma | Certain cells of the embryo that are involved in the development of the spine | Cancerous and invasive but spreads slowly |
Ependymoma | Cells lining the canal in the center of the spinal cord | Noncancerous or cancerous |
Meningioma | Cells of the layers of tissue covering the spinal cord (meninges) | Mostly noncancerous but may recur Recurrences sometimes cancerous |
Neurofibroma | Cells that support peripheral nerves (the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord) | Usually noncancerous |
Myxopapillary ependymoma | Nerve tissue outside the spinal cord | Noncancerous but may recur |
Schwannoma | Cells (called Schwann cells) that wrap around peripheral nerve fibers, forming the myelin sheath | Usually noncancerous |
* These tumors can occur in children and adults. |