Dr. Hobbs is a neurosurgeon specialty-trained in diagnosing and surgically treating tumors of the spine — benign and metastatic. He combines advanced imaging, image-guided surgical navigation, and radiolucent carbon-fiber implants with coordinated, multidisciplinary care.
Call (219) 250-5010A spinal tumor is an abnormal growth of cells in or around the spinal column — within the bones of the spine, the membranes that cover the spinal cord, or the spinal cord itself. Some are benign (noncancerous) and grow slowly; others are malignant. The most common spinal tumors are metastatic — cancer that began somewhere else in the body and spread to the spine.
Because tumors can compress the spinal cord and nerves or weaken the bones that support the body, they require evaluation by a specialist with specific training in spinal tumor care. Dr. Hobbs is specialty-trained in diagnosing and surgically treating spinal tumors, and coordinates each patient’s plan with oncology and radiation specialists so that surgery is used exactly when — and only when — it helps.
Tap each layer to see where tumors can develop and what that means. (Educational — not a diagnosis.)
Spinal tumor symptoms are frequently mistaken for ordinary back pain. The pattern matters more than the pain itself:
Check any that apply to you. This is an educational guide only — it is not a diagnosis, and a licensed clinician makes all care decisions.
Sudden loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or rapidly progressive weakness in the legs may indicate serious spinal cord or nerve compression. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room — do not wait for an appointment.
The most common spinal tumors — cancer that has spread to the spine from elsewhere in the body. Treatment is coordinated closely with the patient’s oncology team and may combine surgery, radiation, and stabilization.
Noncancerous growths such as hemangiomas, osteoid osteomas, schwannomas, and meningiomas. Many need only monitoring; surgery is considered when they cause pain, grow, or press on nerves.
Cancers that arise in the spine itself, such as chordoma or sarcomas. These are rare and typically managed by a multidisciplinary team with surgery, radiation, and systemic therapy as appropriate.
Tumors within the spinal cord itself, such as ependymomas and astrocytomas. These are the least common and demand the most specialized neurosurgical expertise to treat safely.
Diagnosis starts with a careful history and neurological examination, followed by MRI with contrast — the most sensitive test for identifying a spinal tumor, its exact location, and its relationship to the spinal cord and nerves. CT imaging assesses bone involvement and spinal stability. When the diagnosis is uncertain, an image-guided biopsy establishes exactly what the tumor is before treatment decisions are made.
Because many spinal tumors are metastatic, evaluation often includes coordination with oncology to understand the complete picture — the primary cancer, other sites of disease, and overall treatment goals. That full picture, not the spine alone, drives the right plan.
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for a spinal tumor. Dr. Hobbs builds an individualized plan with each patient’s oncology and radiation team, using surgery precisely where it adds the most benefit.
Small benign tumors that cause no symptoms are often monitored with periodic imaging rather than treated. Radiation therapy — delivered by the radiation oncology team — is highly effective for many tumor types, and medical therapy is directed by oncology when the tumor is part of a systemic cancer.
Surgery is recommended when a tumor compresses the spinal cord or nerves, threatens spinal stability, causes progressive neurological decline, or requires tissue diagnosis. Depending on the case, Dr. Hobbs performs:
When stabilization is needed, Dr. Hobbs offers radiolucent carbon-fiber implants instead of traditional titanium. Because carbon fiber is nearly invisible on X-ray, CT, and MRI, it allows more precise radiation treatment planning and clearer follow-up imaging to monitor for recurrence — a meaningful advantage for tumor patients.
Learn about carbon-fiber implantsA spinal tumor diagnosis deserves specialty-trained expertise. Dr. Hobbs provides advanced, coordinated tumor care right here in Northwest Indiana.
(219) 250-5010Monday – Friday · 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
500 E. 109th Avenue
Crown Point, IN 46307
601 Gateway Boulevard
Chesterton, IN 46304