| The fear of brain tumor headaches is what drives | | | | headaches they might require further workup. Red |
| many patients to their primary care doctor or to a | | | | flags include headaches that worsen with coughing, |
| headache clinic. Most times they present to the office | | | | sneezing or bending over. Any weakness is a concern |
| afraid of their symptoms and convinced they may | | | | as are visual changes, memory and personality |
| have a brain tumor. Believe it or not, clinicians do take | | | | changes. |
| this seriously but it is dependent on the patient's | | | | Certain things put people at risk for tumors in the |
| symptoms and the results of the physical exam. | | | | brain. These include: |
| When a headache does occur from a brain tumor it is | | | | - smoking |
| termed a secondary headache because some other | | | | - previous history of breast, prostate, lung or neck |
| medical problem is causing the pain. This is also known | | | | cancer |
| as an organic headache. Brain tumors are rare, even | | | | - smoking |
| in people with recurring headache. When they do | | | | - smoking (get it?) |
| occur about 50% of the patients present with | | | | Neuroimaging In Brain Tumor Headaches |
| headache, and many will also have seizures and other | | | | More often than not, headache is not the complaint |
| neurological problems such as memory loss and | | | | that leads to a tumor. Most patients present with |
| personality changes. | | | | other neurological symptoms described above. I |
| Brain Tumors vs Other Headaches | | | | should note that the symptoms can also include |
| Typical brain tumor headaches may have pain all over | | | | dizziness, tinnitus and incontinence. When an exam is |
| the head that is throbbing in nature. The headache | | | | abnormal and a patient has visual defects or |
| may be mild in the morning and then progress and | | | | weakness then either a CT or MRI of the brain is |
| worsen during the day. They may also worsen over | | | | needed. Contrast MUST be given as parts of a tumor |
| a period of months. Some people have had migraine | | | | will appear different on imaging when contrast is |
| type symptoms with tumors. Some types of tumors | | | | present. After imaging, the doctor may have to do a |
| may obstruct cerebrospinal fluid which results in a | | | | lumbar puncture or spinal tap if the results of the |
| headache that is positional..it is relieved when the | | | | imaging warrant this. |
| person lays down. | | | | Treatment Of Brain Tumors and the Headache |
| This is different from other headaches such as | | | | Treatment of tumors is directly related to the type |
| tension and migraine which are considered primary | | | | of tumor. Some need surgery, some need |
| headaches (no underlying medical problem). Tension | | | | chemotherapy and radiation and sometimes, with |
| and migraine headaches tend to be throbbing and | | | | benign tumors they are just watched for awhile. This |
| pulsating headaches and are generally not all over the | | | | means serial MRI's every couple of months. The |
| head. | | | | headaches are treated symptomatically and generally |
| At times, symptoms and complaints from patients | | | | respond well to steroids or anti-inflammatories. Many |
| may alert a doctor and these are called "red flags". | | | | times the brain tumor headaches disappear after |
| Although they can happen with migraines and tension | | | | surgery. |