Referring Physicians: Spine Tumor Services

At Rush, neurologists, neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists and other experts work together to treat complex spine tumors.

Rush physicians are experienced in treating the full range of spine tumors, including primary benign and malignant spine tumors and metastatic spine tumors. We offer many treatment options including tumor resection surgery, spinal decompression surgery and radiation therapy.

The RUSH MD Anderson Comprehensive Spine Tumor Clinic brings together multidisciplinary experts to provide patients with the best possible care. Patients will see all their providers during one convenient visit, and we can typically see patients within one week of a referral.

Who Are Ideal Candidates for Spine Tumor Treatment at Rush?

Any patient with a known or suspected spinal tumor will receive excellent care at Rush. Our experts are skilled at developing treatment plans to alleviate pain and improve function for patients with spine tumors.

Our team can provide both first and second opinions for spinal tumors. We can diagnose and care for rare and complex tumors, including astrocytoma, chordomas, glioblastomas, meningiomas, osteosarcomas and other tumor types.

We provide expert care for patients with metastatic spine tumors, including advanced image-guided radiation therapy for complex tumors.

Why Refer Patients Here?

• Immediate access for patients: We can typically see patients within one week of receiving a referral. Patients can see multiple providers in one day.
• Nationally recognized care: U.S. News & World Report ranks Rush University Medical Center among the nation's best hospitals for neurosurgery, orthopedics and cancer care. Additionally, many of our spine cancer experts are named "Top Doctors" by Castle Connolly, a recognition voted on by fellow physicians for exceptional patient care.
• Advanced radiation therapy: Rush was among the first hospitals in the U.S. to adopt image-guided stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for treating complex spinal tumors.
• Minimally-invasive expertise: Rush neurosurgeons complete thousands of spine surgeries each year. Our neurosurgeons are experienced in the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat spine tumors, allowing patients to heal faster.

What Is the Process for Referring a Patient?

To refer a patient to Rush, call our Provider Express Line at (312) 947-4725. You can also refer patients online through our provider referral form. For more information about referring patients, you can visit our Referring and Transferring Patients page.

Most referred patients will have an appointment within a week. Patients in need of urgent care can be seen sooner.

Conditions We Treat

• Aneurysmal Bone Cyst
• Astrocytoma
• Cavernous Malformation/Cavernoma
• Chordoma
• Chondrosarcoma
• Ependymoma/Myxopapillary Ependymoma
• Ewing's Sarcoma
• Giant Cell Tumor
• Hemangioblastoma
• Meningioma
• Metastatic Tumors
• Multiple Myeloma
• Neurofibroma
• Nerve Sheath Tumors
• Osteoblastoma
• Osteochondroma
• Osteoid Osteoma
• Plasmacytoma
• Sacral Tumors
• Sarcoma
• Schwannoma
• Spinal Cord Tumor

Treatments and Tests Offered

• CT Scan
• Image-guided Biopsy
• Low-dose Total Spine Imaging (EOS)
• MRI
• Nuclear Medicine Bone Scan
• Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT Scan)
• Spinal Angiography
• Embolization
• En Bloc Spondylectomy
• Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty
• Intradural Tumor Resection
• Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumor Resection
• Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
• Percutaneous Spinal Instrumentation
• Radiation Therapy
• Sacrectomy
• Separation Surgery/Spinal Decompression
• Spinal Fusion/Spinal Reconstruction
• Spinal Navigation
• Spinal Robotics
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)

Clinical Trials, Studies and Publications From Rush Spine Tumor Physicians

• Registry for the Management and Outcome of Metastatic Spine Tumors
• Evaluation of Adverse Events and the Impact on Health-Related Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Metastatic Spine Tumors: Analysis of the Metastatic Tumor Research and Outcomes Network (MTRON) Registry Dataset
• Benign Intradural and Paraspinal Nerve Sheath Tumors: Advanced Surgical Techniques
• Malnutrition in Spine Oncology: Where Are We and What Are We Measuring?
• A Critical Appraisal of the Application of Frailty and Sarcopenia in the Spinal Oncology Population
• Association Between Nutritional Status and Survival in Patients Requiring Treatment for Spinal Metastases
• Complete anterior-posterior minimally invasive thoracoscopic robotic-assisted and posterior tubular approach for resection of thoracic dumbbell tumor
• Adult Spinal Ependymomas: An Epidemiologic Study
• Minimally Invasive Surgery Strategies: Changing the Treatment of Spine Tumors
• AO Spine Clinical Practice Recommendations: Reducing the Surgical Footprint of Surgery for Spinal Metastases
• Upstream Effects: Intraoperative Migration of Intradural Extramedullary Tumor After Non-Adjacent Level Stenosis Decompression
• Minimally invasive "separation surgery" plus adjuvant stereotactic radiotherapy in the management of spinal epidural metastases