A brain tumor is a mass or growth of abnormal cells in your brain.
headaches
Causes
Primary
Chronic daily
headaches (for
example, chronic
migraine, chronic
tension-type
headache, or
hemicranias
continua) Cough
headaches
Exercise
headaches Sex
headaches
Secondary
Acute sinusitis
(sinus infection)
Arterial tears
(carotid or
vertebral
dissections) Blood
clot (venous
thrombosis) within
the brain —
separate from
stroke Brain
aneurysm (a bulge
in an artery in your
brain) Brain AVM
(arteriovenous
malformation) —
an abnormal
formation of brain
blood vessels
types
Symptoms
New onset or change in pattern of headaches Headaches that gradually become more frequent and
more severe Unexplained nausea or vomiting Vision problems, such as blurred vision, double vision
or loss of peripheral vision Gradual loss of sensation or movement in an arm or a leg
Difficulty with balance Speech difficulties Confusion in everyday matters Personality or behavior
changes Seizures, especially in someone who doesn't have a history of seizures
Causes
Primary brain tumors originate in the brain itself or in tissues close to it, such as in the brain-covering
membranes (meninges), cranial nerves, pituitary gland or pineal gland.
Primary brain tumors begin when normal cells acquire errors (mutations) in their DNA. These
mutations allow cells to grow and divide at increased rates and to continue living when healthy cells
would die. The result is a mass of abnormal cells, which forms a tumor.
ype of cells involved.
Gliomas. These tumors begin in the brain or spinal cord and include astrocytomas, ependymomas,
glioblastomas, oligoastrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas.
Meningiomas. A meningioma is a tumor that arises from the membranes that surround your brain
and spinal cord (meninges). Most meningiomas are noncancerous.
Acoustic neuromas (schwannomas). These are benign tumors that develop on the nerves that control
balance and hearing leading from your inner ear to your brain.
Risk factors
Exposure to radiation. People who
have been exposed to a type of
radiation called ionizing radiation
have an increased risk of brain
tumor. Examples of ionizing
radiation include radiation therapy
used to treat cancer and radiation
exposure caused by atomic bombs.
Family history of brain tumors.
A small portion of brain
tumors occurs in people with a
family history of brain tumors
or a family history of genetic
syndromes that increase the
risk of brain tumors.
Diagnosis
A neurological exam.
A neurological exam
may include, among
other things,
checking your vision,
hearing, balance,
coordination,
strength and reflexes.
Difficulty in one or
more areas may
provide clues about
the part of your brain
that could be affected
by a brain tumor.
Imaging tests.
Magnetic
resonance
imaging (MRI) is
commonly used
to help diagnose
brain tumors. In
some cases a dye
may be injected
through a vein in
your arm during
your MRI study.
Tests to find cancer in
other parts of your
body. If it's suspected
that your brain tumor
may be a result of
cancer that has spread
from another area of
your body, your doctor
may recommend tests
and procedures to
determine where the
cancer originated. One
example might be a CT
or PET scan to look for
signs of lung cancer.
Treatment
Surgery
If the brain tumor is located in a place that makes it accessible for an operation, your surgeon will
work to remove as much of the brain tumor as possible.
Minimally Invasive Scarless Brain Surgery
The procedure, offered at very few medical centers in the country, is used to help certain people
who've been told they have an inoperable brain tumor. The surgical team is able to remove the
tumor safely with minimized risk of serious complications.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, such as X-rays or protons, to kill tumor cells. Radiation
therapy can come from a machine outside your body (external beam radiation), or, in very rare cases,
radiation can be placed inside your body close to your brain tumor (brachytherapy).
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill tumor cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be taken orally in pill form or
injected into a vein (intravenously). The chemotherapy drug used most often to treat brain tumors is
temozolomide (Temodar), which is taken as a pill. Many other chemotherapy drugs are available and
may be used depending on the type of cancer.
Rehabilitation after treatment
Physical therapy to help you regain lost motor skills or muscle strength
Occupational therapy to help you get back to your normal daily activities, including work, after a
brain tumor or other illness
Speech therapy with specialists in speech difficulties (speech pathologists) to help if you have
difficulty speaking