Tumours of the spinal cord are associated with high morbidity but, owing to the rarity of such tumours, our understanding of the biology of these lesions is limited. In this Review, Zadnik et al. summarize current knowledge on the demographics, genetics and treatment of the most common spinal cord tumours—namely, ependymomas, astrocytomas, haemangioblastomas and meningiomas—and highlight how recent advances in genetic studies are informing research to develop novel therapeutic approaches.
- Patricia L. Zadnik
- Ziya L. Gokaslan
- Chetan Bettegowda
