[Diagnostic standards for extradural tumors and metastases of the spinal column]

Because of the heterogeneous clinical and paraclinical symptoms accompanied by the urgent necessity to rapidly find a diagnosis, the differential diagnostic delineation of spinal tumors from back pain related to other reasons is a special challenge in the orthopedic practice. Employing an algorithm based on anamnesis, clinical, radiological and paraclinical examinations, a guideline-related biopsy as well as histological processing of the biopsy material, tumor lesions can usually be classified regarding entity, dignity and extent. Following this a treatment strategy can be defined. Because of the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach the diagnostic algorithm should be planned during a tumor conference and performed in specialized centers.