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Types of Brain Tumors
Types of Brain Tumors
Most brain tumors are defined according to the type of cells they arise from. The most common of these tumors in adults are:
Meningiomas
Meningiomas are common, typically benign tumors that arise from the covering of the brain, called the meninges. They are much more common in women and older adults. Symptoms can include headaches, seizures or other neurological symptoms. Depending on their location, many can be cured with surgery; however, tumors occurring deep in the brain may best be treated by radiosurgery, such as Gamma Knife treatment.
Gliomas
Gliomas (astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, ependymomas) are common brain tumors that arise in the substance of the brain tissue. They can occur at any age but become increasingly common after the age of 40. The most common type of glioma is the astrocytoma, and the second is the oligodendroglioma. Gliomas are different from most tumors in that there is not a sharp difference between benign and malignant tumors. Because of this, they are typically graded 1 – 4. Grade 1 is uncommon and includes benign tumors, whereas Grade 4 includes highly malignant tumors. Grades 2 and 3 are intermediate types. Other than Grade 1 tumors, the other types of gliomas have a high propensity for recurrence, no matter the treatment, including radiation, surgery or chemotherapy. Frequently, they can recur as a higher-grade tumor or a more malignant type.
Acoustic Neuromas
Acoustic neuromas are relatively common tumors with the most typical symptom being hearing loss. Because there are many other causes of hearing loss, in order to tell whether the person has an acoustic neuroma, they have to have an imaging test, typically an MRI scan. As acoustic neuromas grow, they can cause symptoms other than hearing loss, such as difficulty with one's balance, numbness in the face, facial weakness and headache.
Options for treatment vary. If the acoustic neuroma is small, not causing many symptoms, and especially if the patient is elderly, close observation may be the best option. If the tumor is growing or moderate in size, then Gamma Knife treatment is frequently an effective treatment option, in addition to open surgery. A large tumor typically requires an open surgery.
Pituitary Adenomas
Pituitary adenomas are generally benign tumors that arise in the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain, and it regulates many of the hormones that are secreted throughout the body. Symptoms of these tumors can be excess secretion of those hormones, or not enough secretion of those hormones. They can also enlarge and compress areas of the brain related to sight, causing vision loss. Some of these tumors can be treated with medications, while others require surgery. Typically, surgery is done through the nose rather than through brain because of increased safety and reduction in recovery time.
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Tumor Type |
Characteristics |
Treatment |
Occurrence |
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Meningiomas |
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Origin: Layers of tissue covering the brain (meninges) |
Slow-growing; Affect 2X as many women as men; more common in older adults; Very rarely spread |
Often "watchful waiting;" if tumor grows, surgery or radiosurgery |
Most common. Account for about 1/3 of primary brain tumors |
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Gliomas |
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Grade 1 and 2 Astrocytomas Origin: Cells that support nerve cells (astrocytes) |
Slow-growing; rarely spread; Usually seen in children or young adults |
Usually surgery or radiation therapy |
< 10% of all primary brain cancers |
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Grade 3 and 4 High-grade Astrocytomas (glioblastomas, anaplastic astrocytomas) Origin: Cells that support nerve cells (astrocytes) |
Grow rapidly and invade nearby tissues; Most common in adults 40+ |
Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy; many clinical trials are available |
Account for about 25% of all primary brain cancers |
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Oligodendroglioma Origin: Cells that provide a protective sheath to nerve cells (oligodendrocytes) |
Often occur in frontal or temporal lobe; can be high or low grade |
Surgery, possibly radiation therapy and chemotherapy |
About 4% of all brain cancers |
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Acoustic Neuromas / Schwannomas |
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Origin: Cells found in the sheath that covers nerve cells (Schwann cells) |
Can cause reduced hearing and balance problems;
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"Watchful waiting;" Radiosurgery; or surgery |
7% of all central nervous system tumors |
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Pituitary Adenomas |
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Origin: Pituitary cells |
May cause excessive secretion of hormones; Mostly benign |
Depending on tumor's location and hormonal effects, treatment ranges from surgery to radiation therapy to hormonal treatments |
6% of primary brain cancers
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