Types, risk factors & symptoms of brain tumors

The risk factors for brain tumor possibly include radiation exposure to the head and family history. However, exact factors have not yet been found and are under study.

As is the case with all tumors, brain tumors can either be benign or malignant, and can occur in different parts of the brain. Primary tumors of the brain originate from the brain tissue. They are classified by the type of tissue in which they begin. The most common tumors of the brain are gliomas, which begin in the glial (supportive) tissue. There are several types of gliomas:

• Astrocytomas: these may grow anywhere in the brain or spinal cord. In adults, they most often arise in the cerebrum. In children, they occur in the brain stem, the cerebrum, and the cerebellum. A grade III astrocytoma is sometimes called anaplastic astrocytoma. A grade IV astrocytoma is usually called glioblastoma multiforme.
• Brain stem gliomas: these tumors generally cannot be removed. Most brain stem gliomas are high-grade astrocytomas.
• Ependymomas: these usually develop in the lining of the ventricles and are most common in childhood and adolescence.
• Oligodendrogliomas: these tumors arise in the cells that produce myelin, the fatty covering that protects nerves in the cerebrum. They grow slowly and usually do not spread. They occur most often in middle-aged adults and are rare.

Other types of tumors that do not begin in glial tissue are:

• Medulloblastomas: recent research suggests that these tumors develop from primitive (developing) nerve cells that normally do not remain in the body after birth. For this reason, they are sometimes called primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET). They usually arise in the cerebellum and occur most often in children most commonly in boys.
• Meningiomas: these grow from the meninges and are usually benign. Because they grow very slowly, they are often quite large before they cause symptoms. They occur most often in women between 30 and 50 years of age.
• Schwannomas: these are benign tumors that begin in Schwann cells, which produce the myelin. They occur mainly in adults and affect women twice as often as men.
• Craniopharyngiomas: these develop in the region of the pituitary gland near the hypothalamus. They are usually benign; however, they are sometimes considered malignant because they can press on or damage the hypothalamus and affect vital functions. These tumors occur most often in children and adolescents.
• Germ cell tumors: arise from primitive (developing) sex cells, or germ cells. The most common germ cell tumor in the brain is the germinoma.
• Pineal region tumors: occur in or around the pineal gland, a tiny organ near the center of the brain. These tumors often cannot be removed as the pineal region is very difficult to reach.

For a brain tumor, the signs and symptoms depend upon the location, type, size and severity of the tumor. Identifying the presence of a tumor is the first step in determining a course of treatment. They can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from headache to stroke. These tumors can mimic symptoms of other conditions and also cause an increase of pressure in the brain, shift the brain or push it against the skull, and/or invade and damage nerves and healthy brain tissue. The best way to diagnose is to perform a CT scan or an MRI. It is sometimes difficult to determine whether the patient needs an MRI or CT scan, but it is always a better option to perform one as these tests can easily detect a tumor. Possible symptoms of a brain tumor include:

• A new seizure in an adult
• Gradual loss of movement or sensation in an arm or leg
• Unsteadiness or imbalance associated with headache
• Loss of vision in one or both eyes, especially if the vision loss is more peripheral
• Double vision associated with headache
• Hearing loss with or without dizziness
• Speech difficulty of gradual onset
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Severe nausea or vomiting in the morning
• Headache
• Infertility
• Stroke

More information can be found on healthcarevilla.com.