Spinal tumors found in the athlete.

Spine tumors in the athlete are rare but should be included in the differential diagnosis of any patient in the adolescent or young adult age group with persistent or severe pain. Presenting symptoms are often nonspecific, so a high index of suspicion is needed to diagnose these lesions in a timely fashion. Early recognition and referral to an appropriate multidisciplinary spine tumor center can greatly improve prognosis for these challenging cases.