Some Specific Brain Tumors

Gliomas include astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and ependymomas. Astrocytomas are the most common glioma.

Some astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas grow slowly and may initially cause only seizures. Others, such as anaplastic astrocytomas and anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, grow fast and are cancerous. (Anaplastic means that a cell has not become specialized to do a specific function—that is, the cell is undifferentiated, Undifferentiated cells in a tumor suggest that the tumor is rapidly growing.) Astrocytomas tend to develop in young people. They can become more aggressive and are then called glioblastomas. Glioblastomas tend to develop during middle or old age. Glioblastomas may grow so fast that they increase pressure in the brain, causing headaches and slowed thinking. If the pressure becomes high enough, drowsiness, then coma, may result.

Ependymomas develop from cells that line the spaces within the brain (ventricles). Ependymomas, which are uncommon, develop mainly in children and young adults. They are uncommon after adolescence.

Symptoms of gliomas vary depending on the tumor’s location.

Doctors diagnose gliomas based primarily on results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and biopsy. MRI provides better result if a contrast agent (gadolinium) is used to make structures easier to see, For the biopsy, doctors may take a sample of tumor tissue before or during surgery. If it is taken before surgery, a small hole is drilled in the skull and a needle is inserted to remove the sample. The sample is analyzed to determine the exact type of tumor. The sample is also tested for genetic mutations that affect the tumor's growth. This information may help guide treatment.

Treatment of gliomas is similar to treatment of all brain tumors Treatment A brain tumor can be a noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) growth in the brain. It may originate in the brain or have spread (metastasized) to the brain from another part of the body... read more : surgery to remove the tumor, radiation therapy, and, for some types of gliomas, chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy Immunotherapy for Cancer Immunotherapy is used to stimulate the body's immune system against cancer. These treatments target specific genetic characteristics of the tumor cells. The genetic characteristics of tumors... read more .

Prognosis varies widely depending on the type of glioma, the location of the glioma, the genetic mutations present, and the extent of the tumor's spread.

Medulloblastomas develop mainly in children and young adults. They develop in the cerebellum (located at the back of the head just above the neck). Thus, they may block the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid from the spaces within the brain (ventricles). Thus, fluid may accumulate in the ventricles, causing them to enlarge (called hydrocephalus). As a result, pressure on the brain increases. These tumors cause nystagmus (rapid movement of the eyes in one direction, then a slower drift back to the original position), loss of coordination, and unsteadiness in walking.

Medulloblastomas may spread through the cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord), above to the cerebrum and below to the spinal cord.

Treatment of medulloblastomas depends on the type of medulloblastoma, the person's age, and extent of the tumor's spread. Typically in children over 3 years old, doctors remove as much of the tumor as can be done safely. Then, chemotherapy and, if necessary, radiation therapy are used. Very young children are given several chemotherapy drugs after surgery to try to delay or avoid radiation therapy. (In children, some tissues are more sensitive to radiation than in adults.) In adults, surgery is followed by radiation therapy. Adding chemotherapy may improve survival.

With treatment, the percentage of people who are alive 5 years later (the survival rate) vary depending on age. Overall, rates are about

Meningiomas are among the most common brain tumors. They are usually noncancerous but may recur after they are removed.

Meningiomas are the only brain tumor that is more common among women. They usually appear in people aged 40 to 60, but they can begin growing during childhood or later life. These tumors do not directly invade the brain but may compress the brain or cranial nerves, block the absorption of cerebrospinal fluid, or do both. Meningiomas can also grow into bones in the head, sometimes causing visible changes and affecting vision and hearing.

Symptoms of meningiomas depend on where the tumor develops. They may include weakness or numbness, seizures, an impaired sense of smell, changes in vision, headaches, and impaired mental function. In older people, a meningioma may cause dementia.

Diagnosis of meningiomas is usually based on results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a contrast agent to make structure easier to see.

If meningiomas do not cause symptoms and are small, treatment consists of regular imaging to monitor them. If meningiomas cause symptoms, are enlarging, or are located in certain critical areas of the brain, doctors remove them if possible, sometimes using radiosurgery, Radiosurgery does not require an incision. Instead, it uses focused radiation to destroy the tumor.

Tumors can develop near the pineal gland, a small structure deep within the brain. Pineal tumors usually develop during childhood and often cause early puberty, especially in boys. They can block the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain, leading to hydrocephalus (accumulation of fluid in the brain's ventricles, causing them to enlarge). As a result, pressure on the brain increases.

The most common type of pineal tumor is a germ cell tumor. (Germ cell tumors originate in cells that develop into the reproductive system in males and females. These cells are called germ cells.)

Symptoms of pineal tumors include the inability to look up and changes in the position of the eyelid. The eyes may be unable to adjust to changes in light.

Diagnosis of pineal tumors typically involves magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) followed by biopsy. Blood tests are sometimes also done.

Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, radiosurgery, and surgery are used alone or in combination. Germ cell tumors are very sensitive to radiation therapy and are often cured.

The pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, controls much of the body’s endocrine (hormone) system. Most tumors of the pituitary gland are pituitary adenomas, which are usually noncancerous. Pituitary adenomas tumors may secrete abnormally large amounts of pituitary hormones or block production of hormones. When large amounts of hormones are secreted, effects vary depending on which hormone is involved.

Pituitary gland tumors can block hormone production by destroying the tissues in the pituitary gland that secrete hormones, eventually resulting in insufficient levels of these hormones in the body.

Headaches commonly occur. Vision is affected if the tumor puts pressure on the optic nerve. Rarely, bleeding into the tumor occurs, causing a sudden headache and loss of vision.

Doctors suspect pituitary tumors in people with unexplained headaches, characteristic visual problems, or problems due to abnormalities in hormone production. Diagnosis is usually based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood tests to measure levels of hormones produced by pituitary tumors.