Surgery for spinal tumors includes tumor removal and stabilization with or without fusion.

Complete tumor removal is not usually needed and can be difficult due to the tumor location.

Consequently, it is in the way during tumor removal and is more vulnerable to injury.

Again, care must be taken to avoid torsion or twisting of the nerve during tumor removal.

The greater the extent of tumor removal, the better.

In 1998, state health officials fined the hospital for the death of a patient undergoing a tumor removal in 1997, citing faulty surgical procedures.

These would include brachytherapy, biopsy, neuroscience research and tumor removal.

Any tumor-associated pain usually subsides after tumor removal.

The surgeon can see the glowing tumor, and use it as a guide for more accurate tumor removal.

The most important role for the surgeon is to ensure complete tumor removal without rupture and perform an assessment of the extent of disease.