| The growth of abnormal cells in the
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| | Difficulty with balance
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| tissues of the brain. Brain tumors can be
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| | Speech difficulties
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| benign (non-cancerous) or malignant
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| | Confusion in everyday matter.
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| (cancerous).
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| | Diagnosis
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| Brain tumors are classified depending on
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| | Computed tomography (CT Scan): A
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| the exact site of the tumor, the type of
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| | computerized x-ray machine is used to
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| tissue involved, benign or malignant
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| | take a series of detailed pictures from
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| tendencies of the tumor, and other
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| | many different angles. Dye may be
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| factors. Primary brain tumors can arise
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| | injected to help to clarify organs and
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| from the brain cells, the meninges
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| | tissues.
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| (membranes around the brain), nerves, or
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| | Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):
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| glands.
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| | Powerful magnets waves are used to make a
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| Causes of Brain Tumor
| |
| | series of detailed pictures. Patients are
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| The cause of primary brain tumors is
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| | injected with a substance called
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| unknown. This is because they are rare,
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| | gadolinium to highlight possible cancer
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| there are many types, and there are many
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| | cells.
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| possible risk factors that could play a
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| | Angiogram. This imaging test uses a dye
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| role. Exposure to some types of
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| | to visualize all the blood vessels in the
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| radiation, head injuries, and hormone
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| | brain to detect certain types of tumors.
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| replacement therapy may be risk factors,
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| | Lumbar puncture/spinal tap. For this
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| as well as many others. The risk of using
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| | procedure, a special needle is placed
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| cell phones is hotly debated.
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| | into the lower back and into the spinal
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| Genetic mutations and deletions of tumor
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| | canal around the spinal cord. A small
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| suppressor genes (i.e., genes that
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| | amount of cerebrospinal fluid, which
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| suppress the development of malignant
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| | surrounds the brain and spinal cord, can
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| cells) increase the risk for some types
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| | be removed and sent for testing.
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| of brain cancer. Inherited diseases that
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| | Treatment
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| are associated with brain tumors include
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| | Surgery is required to determine whether
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| the following:
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| | a brain tumor exists and what type of
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| Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
| |
| | tumor it is. A small sample of tumor
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| (pituitary adenoma)
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| | tissue may be surgically removed and
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| Neurofibromatosis type 2 (brain and
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| | examined under a microscope. This is
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| spinal cord tumors)
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| | called a biopsy. Sometimes a biopsy is
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| Retinoblastoma (malignant retinal glioma)
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| | done by making a small hole in the skull
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| Tuberous sclerosis (primary brain tumors)
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| | and using a needle to extract a sample of
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| Von Hippel-Lindau disease (retinal tumor,
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| | the tumor.
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| CNS tumors)
| |
| | Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment
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| Signs and Symptoms of Brain Tumor
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| | that uses high-energy x-rays or other
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| Signs and symptoms can include the
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| | types of radiation to kill cancer cells.
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| following:
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| | There are two types of radiation therapy.
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| New onset or change in pattern of
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| | External radiation therapy uses a machine
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| headaches
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| | outside the body to send radiation toward
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| Headaches that gradually become more
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| | the cancer. Internal radiation therapy
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| frequent and more severe
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| | uses a radioactive substance sealed in
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| Unexplained nausea or vomiting
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| | needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that
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| Vision problems, such as blurred vision,
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| | are placed directly into or near the
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| double vision or loss of peripheral
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| | cancer. The way the radiation therapy is
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| vision
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| | given depends on the type and stage of
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| Gradual loss of sensation or movement in
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| | the cancer being treated.
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| an arm or a leg
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|
