| Brain Tumor | | | | tumors are commonly misdiagnosed. |
| What is this condition? | | | | How is it diagnosed? |
| A malignant brain tumor is a cancer of the brain. It's | | | | In many cases, a brain tumor is diagnosed by |
| relatively common - slightly more so in men than in | | | | performing a tissue biopsy (removing and analyzing a |
| women - and may occur at any age. In adults, it | | | | small portion of brain tissue) during stereotactic |
| most often strikes between ages 40 and 60. In | | | | surgery. In this procedure, a head ring is affixed to |
| children, the incidence of malignant brain tumors is | | | | the person's skull, and a device that removes tissue |
| generally highest before age 1 and then again | | | | is guided to the tumor by a computed tomography |
| between ages 2 and 12. | | | | scan (commonly called a CAT scan) or magnetic |
| Malignant brain tumors are classified by the type of | | | | resonance imaging (commonly known as MRI). |
| cancer cell. In adults, the most common tumors are | | | | The doctor will also take the persons history and |
| gliomas and meningiomas. Usually, these tumors are | | | | assess his or her neurologic status; the doctor also |
| located above the covering of the cerebellum - the | | | | may order skull X-rays, a brain scan, a CAT scan, |
| area in the back of the brain that coordinates | | | | MRI, and cerebral angiography (a study of the blood |
| voluntary muscle movements. | | | | vessels in the brain). A spinal tap shows increased |
| What causes it? | | | | pressure and protein levels, decreased sugar levels |
| The cause of a malignant brain tumor is unknown. | | | | and, occasionally, tumor cells in cerebrospinal fluid. |
| What are its symptoms? | | | | How is it treated? |
| A malignant brain tumor causes changes in the central | | | | Treatment seeks to reduce the size of inoperable |
| nervous system (brain and spinal cord) by invading | | | | tumors, reduce brain swelling and increased intracranial |
| and destroying tissues and causing compression of | | | | pressure, prevent further neurologic damage, and |
| the brain, cranial nerves, and cerebral blood vessels; | | | | relieve other symptoms. The treatment method |
| brain swelling; and increased intracranial pressure | | | | depends on the type of tumor, its sensitivity to |
| (pressure within the skull). Increased intracranial | | | | radiation, and its location. |
| pressure causes many of this cancer's symptoms, | | | | If the tumor's location permits, surgery is performed |
| although they vary with the tumor type, its location, | | | | to remove the tumor. If the tumor is inoperable, |
| and the degree of invasion. | | | | treatment may include some combination of radiation |
| Because symptoms usually develop gradually, brain | | | | therapy, chemotherapy, and drug therapy. |