Some Tumors That Originate in or Near the Brain*
Type of Tumor |
Origin |
Cancer Status |
Percentage of All Primary Brain Tumors† |
People Affected |
|
Astrocytoma (a type of glioma) |
Cells of the tissue that supports nerve cells (glial cells) |
Cancerous or noncancerous (some initially noncancerous astrocytomas become cancerous) |
(†See note.) |
Children and adults |
|
Chordoma |
Cells of the embryo (embryonic cells) that develop into the spinal cord |
Noncancerous but invasive |
Less than 1% |
Children and adults May be present at birth |
|
Craniopharyngioma |
Embryonic cells from the pituitary gland |
Mostly noncancerous |
Less than 1% |
Children and adults May be present at birth |
|
Dermoid cysts and epidermoid tumors |
Embryonic cells of the skin |
Noncancerous |
Less than 1% |
Children and adults Dermoid cysts: May be present at birth |
|
Ependymoma |
Cells of the tissue that lines the spaces within the brain (ventricles) |
Mostly noncancerous |
About 2–3% (almost 10% of brain tumors in children)‡ |
Children Uncommon in adults |
|
Germ cell tumors (including germinomas) |
Embryonic cells near the pineal gland |
Cancerous or noncancerous |
1% |
Children Germinomas: May be present at birth |
|
Glioblastoma (a type of glioma) |
Immature glial cells (called progenitor cells) |
Cancerous |
About 15%† |
Adults |
|
Hemangioblastoma |
Embryonic cells that develop into blood vessels |
Noncancerous |
1‒2% |
Children and adults |
|
Medulloblastoma |
Embryonic cells of the cerebellum |
Cancerous |
Almost 20% of childhood brain tumors† |
Children and, rarely, adults |
|
Meningioma |
Cells of the layers of tissue covering the brain (meninges) |
Noncancerous but may recur |
About 35% |
Adults |
|
Oligodendroglioma (a type of glioma) |
Cells (called oligodendrocytes) that wrap around nerve fibers in the brain, forming the myelin sheath, and the cells from which they originate |
Cancerous but slow-growing (ultimately often becoming anaplastic oligodendroglioma) |
2–10%† |
Children and adults |
|
Pineal gland tumors |
Cells of the pineal gland or nearby tissues |
Noncancerous or cancerous |
Less than 1% |
Children |
|
Pituitary adenoma |
Cells of the pituitary gland |
Noncancerous |
10% |
Children and adults |
|
Primitive neuroectodermal tumor |
Immature cells lining the spaces within the brain (ventricles) |
Usually noncancerous but sometimes becomes cancerous |
Less than 1% |
Children and young adults |
|
Neurocytoma |
Immature cells lining the spaces within the brain |
Usually noncancerous but sometimes becomes cancerous |
Less than 1% |
Children and young adults |
|
*See also Some Specific Brain Tumors. |
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†The percentage of all primary brain tumors is given unless noted otherwise. |
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‡Astrocytomas, ependymomas, glioblastoma multiforme, medulloblastomas, and oligodendrogliomas are gliomas, which account for 65% of all primary brain tumors. |
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