[Space-occupying tumor lesions of the spinal column. An analysis of the material submitted to the Westphalia Bone Tumor Register].

308 tumorous lesions of the spine were identified in the material submitted to the bone tumour register in Münster for recording. Histological examination revealed metastases in 38.6% primary bone tumours in 33.1%, tumour-like lesions in 10% and haematological and lymphatic disease in 13%. 5.3% of all lesions could not be classified in these groups. Primary bone tumours were seen more often than metastases in the cervical spine, the sacrum and the coccyx. 54.9% of the primary bone tumours of the spine were benign. However, only 31.2% of all the tumorous lesions of the spine, metastases included, were benign. The portion of malignant disorders increased with increasing age. The risk of having a malignant spine tumour was 5.9% in patients under 10 years of age but 92.3% in patients in the seventh decade.