Primary Benign
	Primary Malignant
	Metastatic

Tumors or cancers of the spine and spinal cord are relatively rare. Three types of tumors affect the spine and spinal cord: primary benign tumors, primary malignant tumors, and metastatic tumors.

The term primary is used to designate a tumor originating from actual spine cells. Secondary spinal tumors, or cancers, which are more commonly called metastases, spread from other organs in the body. These neoplastic (tumor-forming) conditions are named based on their point of origin, such as the breast, lungs or prostate.

Primary Benign Tumors
The term benign is used to indicate that a particular tumor or a cancer is usually easy to control and that the patient is unlikely to die from this type of cancer.

Primary Malignant Tumors
The term malignant is used to indicate that a particular tumor or a cancer often spreads to other parts of the body, can be difficult to cure or treat, and may often be deadly.

Metastatic Tumors
The spinal column has a generous blood supply, draining many of the structures of the lower abdominal cavity by way of the system of veins called the Batson's Plexus. This venous plexus is considered the main reason that certain intra-abdominal and pelvic tumors have a tendency to spread to the spine.

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