A brain tumor is a growth of abnormal cells in the tissues of the brain. Brain tumors can be benign, with no cancer cells, or malignant, with cancer cells that grow quickly. Some are primary brain tumors, which start in the brain. Others are metastatic, and they start somewhere else in the body and move to the brain.

Brain tumors can cause many symptoms. Some of the most common are

  • Headaches, often in the morning
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Changes in your ability to talk, hear, or see
  • Problems with balance or walking
  • Problems with thinking or memory
  • Feeling weak or sleepy
  • Changes in your mood or behavior
  • Seizures

Doctors diagnose brain tumors by doing a neurologic exam and tests including an MRI, CT scan, and biopsy. Treatment options include watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses substances that attack cancer cells without harming normal cells. Many people get a combination of treatments.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Symptoms of Brain Tumors

The following features are indicative of Brain Tumors:
  • headache
  • seizures
  • problems with vision
  • vomiting
  • mental changes
  • difficulty in walking
  • difficulty in writing

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Common Causes of Brain Tumors

The following are the most common causes of Brain Tumors:
  • exposure to vinyl chloride
  • exposure to ionizing radiation
  • genetic mutations or deletions of tumor suppressor genes
  • Von Hippel–Lindau disease
  • multiple endocrine neoplasia
  • neurofibromatosis type 2

Risk Factors for Brain Tumors

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Brain Tumors:
  • neurofibromatosis
  • exposure to vinyl chloride
  • Epstein–Barr virus infection
  • ionizing radiations

Prevention of Brain Tumors

No, it is not possible to prevent Brain Tumors.
  • family history

Occurrence of Brain Tumors

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Brain Tumors cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Rare between 10K - 50K cases

Common Age Group

Brain Tumors can occur at any age.

Common Gender

Brain Tumors can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Brain Tumors

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Brain Tumors:
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: To diagnose brain tumors
  • Neurological Exam: To check the vision, hearing, balance, coordination, strength and reflexes

Doctor for Diagnosis of Brain Tumors

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Brain Tumors:
  • Neurologist

Complications of Brain Tumors if untreated

Yes, Brain Tumors causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Brain Tumors is left untreated:
  • cerebral hernia

Procedures for Treatment of Brain Tumors

The following procedures are used to treat Brain Tumors:
  • Surgery: Remove the brain tumours
  • Radiation Therapy: Kills tumour cells by emission of radiations
  • Chemotherapy: To kill tumor cells

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Brain Tumors

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Brain Tumors:
  • Physical therapy: Improves motor skills and coordination and treats orthopedic abnormalities
  • Speech therapy: Improves speaking and eating abilities
  • Occupational therapy: Improves the functional abilities

Patient Support for Treatment of Brain Tumors

The following actions may help Brain Tumors patients:
  • Hire tutor for school-age children: Cope with changes in their memory and thinking after a brain tumor

Time for Treatment of Brain Tumors

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Brain Tumors to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Brain Tumors.
Brain Diseases
Childhood Brain Tumors

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