Patients are usually seen by their primary physician first, and referred for a CT or MRI when a spinal abnormality is suspected. A referral to a neurologist or neurosurgeon is usually given as well. CT is best for diagnosing lesions involving the bones of the spine, and is almost always performed during the planning stages of any spinal surgery. MRI is the imaging method of choice for spinal lesions. It provides the best clarity for seeing the anatomy of the soft tissues.
Intravenous dye is given to highlight the tumor and distinguish it from swollen normal tissue.
In certain situations further imaging studies will be needed. These may be used to study the blood supply to the tumor, or to look at the intradural space. A lumbar puncture can be performed to examine the spinal fluid. Spinal tumors are most often treated using a combination of therapies. Surgery may or may not be appropriate to remove the tumor for an attempted cure.