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Brain Tumor

Brain tumors are classified depending on the exact site of the tumor.

Gliomas
come from glial cells such as astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and ependymal cells.

Three Types

• Astrocytic tumors
• Oligodendroglial tumors
• Glioblastomas (most aggressive type)

Meningiomas
Occur most commonly between the ages of 40 – 70
Are much more common in women
Are usually (90% of the time) benign.

Manifestations:

• Headaches
• Seizures (especially in older adults)
• Weakness in one part of the body
• Changes in the person’s mental functions

Headaches caused by brain tumors may:

• Be worse when the person wakes up in the morning, and clear up in a few hours
• Occur during sleep
• Be accompanied by vomiting, confusion, double vision, weakness, or numbness
• Get worse with coughing or exercise, or with a change in body position

Other symptoms may include:

• Change in alertness (including sleepiness, unconsciousness, and coma)
• Changes in hearing
• Changes in taste or smell
• Confusion or memory loss
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty writing or reading
• Dizziness or abnormal sensation of movement (vertigo)
• Eye abnormalities
• Eyelid drooping
• Pupils different sizes
• Uncontrollable movements

Diagnosis:

• CT scan of the head
• EEG
• Examination of tissue removed from the tumor during surgery or CT-guided biopsy (may confirm the exact type of tumor)
• Examination of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) (may reveal cancerous cells)
• MRI of the head