Pillar No: A 1555, Chaitanyapuri, Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad. 24/7 Services: 040-35178874, +91 80088 01192 Email: pranahithahospitals@gmail.com
What is a Brain Tumor?
A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within the brain or its surrounding tissues. Tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) and may originate in the brain (primary tumors) or spread from other parts of the body (secondary or metastatic tumors).
What Types Of Brain Tumors Are There?
Different forms of brain tumors can be distinguished by their origin, development rate, and behavior. The primary categories are as follows:
Primary Brain Tumors
Primary brain cancers can arise from either the central spinal canal or the brain. They may be malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). Typical varieties include some of the following:
1. Gliomas:
Astrocytomas: Originate from glial cells known as astrocytes. There are several grades of glioblastoma, the most aggressive type, low-grade (slow-growing), and high-grade (aggressive).
Oligodendrogliomas: Grow more slowly than oligodendrocytes, which are another kind of glial cell.
Ependymomas: Come from the ependymal cells that line the spinal cord’s central canal and the brain’s ventricles.
2. Meningiomas
The meninges, the layers covering the brain and spinal cord, are the source of development. While some meningiomas can be cancerous, the majority are benign.
3. Pituitary Tumors
Emerge in the pituitary gland and influence the synthesis and control of hormones. The majority of pituitary adenomas are benign.
4. Schwannomas
Come from the Schwann cells that coat nerve fibers. One prevalent type of neuroma that affects the nerves important for balance and hearing is the acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannomas).
5. Medulloblastomas
Highly malignant tumors typically start in the cerebellum. They are most common in children and can spread through the cerebrospinal fluid.
Secondary (Metastatic) Brain Tumors
Secondary brain tumors are cancerous tumors that have spread to the brain from other parts of the body. These are always malignant and can originate from cancers such as:
Lung Cancer
Breast Cancer
Melanoma (Skin Cancer)
Kidney Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
What Are The Symptoms Of a Brain Tumor?
Depending on the size, location, and development pace of the tumor, a brain tumor can present with a wide range of symptoms. Typical signs and symptoms include:
Headaches: Persistent or severe headaches, often worse in the morning or when lying down.
Seizures: The sudden onset of seizures, even in those who have never experienced them before.
Motor Impairments: Motor impairments include numbness, weakness, and issues with balance and coordination.
Vision Problems: Vision issues include loss of peripheral vision, double vision, and blurry vision.
Cognitive Changes: Cognitive alterations include issues with memory, confusion, focus issues, or personality changes.
Speech Difficulties: Blurred vision, double vision, or loss of peripheral vision.
Vomiting and Nausea: Unexplained vomiting and nausea, particularly in the morning.
Vomiting and Nausea: Unexplained vomiting and nausea, particularly in the morning.
Fatigue: Exceptionally high degrees of exhaustion and low energy.
How are brain tumors treated?
The kind of brain tumor, its location and size, the patient’s age and general health, and the tumor’s aggressiveness all affect how the tumor is treated. Typical therapeutic choices consist of:
Surgery: Removing as much of the tumor surgically as feasible while maintaining neurological function is the main treatment for many brain tumors. Complete removal might not always be possible because of the size or location of the tumor.
Radiation therapy: This medical procedure targets and destroys cancer cells or reduces tumor size using high-energy radiation, such as protons or X-rays.
Chemotherapy: Medication is used to either destroy or stop the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be given intravenously or orally for brain tumors. It can be used either on its own or in conjunction with radiation therapy, surgery, or both.
Immunotherapy: This medical procedure fights cancer cells by utilizing the body’s immune system. Brain tumor treatment is a developing field with continuous research and clinical studies.
Can Brain Tumors be Cured?
A brain tumor’s prognosis is influenced by various elements, such as the tumor’s kind, location, size, grade, and general health of the patient. Here’s a closer look at each of the different elements:
Benign Brain Tumors: Meningiomas and pituitary adenomas are examples of non-cancerous tumors that develop slowly and are usually curable with surgery, particularly if the tumor is easily accessible and fully removed.
Malignant Brain Tumors: Glioblastomas and astrocytomas are examples of cancerous tumors that are more aggressive and difficult to treat. A full recovery is more challenging, and the goal of treatment is frequently to manage the tumor and extend life.
Hospital Picture
