Brain tumor: a grave disease of the human control centre.

In a human body, the brain is the control center. It consists of numerous nerve cells that control how a person feels, moves and thinks. There are two halves to the brain; each half responsible for a different task. Left half is involved in language, thoughts and other verbal expressions. The right half makes a person feel emotions and non verbal things like music and art.

A brain tumor is an abnormal cell growth that takes up space inside the skull and interferes with the normal brain function. It can result in an increased pressure in the brain, grow in size and push the brain to one side in the skull, and/or damage healthy brain tissue. What causes brain tumor? The possible causes and risk factors are still under study; however an association with a positive family history and exposure to ionizing radiation has been established.

In the USA, the estimate for 2012 of new cases of brain tumor is 22,910 cases, while that of the deaths is 13,700. Among all the tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), those arising from the brain account for 85% to 90% of the total. Most of these tumors either occur during childhood between ages 3-12 or in adults aged 55-65.

The pathophysiology of brain tumors explains that these tumors can grow due to infiltration, expansion or both. They can originate in one region of the brain and spread to the surrounding regions and to other parts of the CNS and affect the structure and functioning of various structures including the meninges, cranial nerves, the ventricular system and cerebrovascular circulation. It is quite rare for these tumors to metastasize outside the capacity of the brain and spinal cord.

In adults, the most common types of primary tumors are astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma and meningioma. While in children, medulloblastoma, ependymoma, astrocytoma and brain stem gliomas are common.

Signs of brain tumor depend upon the site, size, grade and severity. The general symptoms include headaches, seizures, changes in vision, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, personality and behavioral changes, alterations in mood, fluctuations in the mental capacity and concentration, etc. These signs might also occur due to infections in the sinus tracts or migraines triggered by the tumor.

A thorough medical history, physical examination and a variety of specialized tests (CT scans, MRIs, PET scans and biopsies), can be used to establish a diagnosis of brain tumor. The treatment depends on the nature, location and stage of the tumor as well as the general health and age of the patient. Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These options can be used in combination with each other or as individual treatments.

Prognosis of each type of tumor is different. Medulloblastoma, if managed with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgical resection, has a good prognosis. Brain stem gliomas have the poorest prognosis among all the forms of brain tumors and account for the largest number of deaths due to brain tumors.

Whether suspected or diagnosed, it is vital to promptly manage a brain tumor as it can result in devastating consequences if left untreated. More information can be found on management of brain tumors on healthcarevilla.com.