Brain Tumor
A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within the brain or surrounding structures. Brain tumors can be benign (non-cancerous, slow-growing) or malignant (cancerous, fast-growing), and may originate in the brain (primary) or spread from elsewhere in the body (secondary). These tumors can cause symptoms by pressing on brain tissue, blocking fluid flow, or disrupting normal brain function.
What is it?
Brain tumors are abnormal cell growths that develop within the brain or its surrounding structures. Primary brain tumors originate in the brain itself from various cell types including glial cells (supporting cells), neurons, meninges (protective membranes), or other brain structures. Secondary brain tumors, or metastases, originate elsewhere in the body and spread to the brain. Brain tumors are classified by cell type, location, and grade (how abnormal the cells appear and how quickly they grow). The World Health Organization (WHO) grading system ranges from Grade I (slow-growing, least malignant) to Grade IV (fast-growing, most malignant).
Primary brain tumors occur in approximately 24 per 100,000 people annually in the United States. Common benign tumors include meningiomas (36% of primary tumors), pituitary adenomas, and schwannomas. Malignant tumors include glioblastomas (the most aggressive, accounting for 15% of all primary brain tumors), astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and ependymomas. Brain tumors can occur at any age but certain types are more common in specific age groups—medulloblastomas and pilocytic astrocytomas in children, glioblastomas in older adults. Unlike many other cancers, brain tumors rarely spread outside the central nervous system, but even benign tumors can be life-threatening due to their location in the confined space of the skull.
Important to Know
Symptoms of brain tumors vary depending on size, type, and location. Common symptoms include persistent or worsening headaches (especially morning headaches or headaches that wake you from sleep), new-onset seizures in adults, progressive weakness or numbness on one side of the body, balance or coordination problems, vision or hearing changes, speech difficulties, personality or behavioral changes, memory problems, and nausea or vomiting. However, many brain tumors are discovered incidentally during imaging for other reasons. Diagnosis requires MRI with contrast (the gold standard), and definitive diagnosis often requires tissue sampling (biopsy or surgical resection) for pathological analysis. Treatment is individualized based on tumor type, grade, location, size, and patient factors. Options include surgical resection (complete or partial removal), radiation therapy (external beam or stereotactic radiosurgery), chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or observation for certain benign tumors. Advances in molecular characterization now guide treatment decisions and prognosis. A multidisciplinary team approach involving neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists, and other specialists is essential for optimal care.