Brain tumor - types, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

An abstract

An assortment of strange cells in the mind is known as cerebrum growth. Learn about its types, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Content 

Introduction

What are the types of brain tumors?

What are the early signs and side effects of cerebrum cancer?

How does a doctor diagnose a brain tumor?

What are the classes of brain tumors?

Can a brain tumor be cured? 

Presentation:

The brain controls functions such as breathing, walking, senses (smell, touch, and sight), memory, emotions and personality. When abnormal cells grow and accumulate in the brain, it is called a brain tumor. There are different types of these tumors, some are non-cancerous or benign and others are cancerous or malignant. Tumors that start in the brain are called primary brain tumors, and types that spread to the brain from other parts of the body are called secondary or metastatic brain tumors.  These tumors can occur at any age, and the exact cause is still unknown. Openness to radiation and family ancestry are the absolute most normal risk factors. Headache, tingling in the hands and feet, memory problems and balance problems are the most common symptoms of a brain tumor.  Astrocytoma, meningioma, and oligodendroglioma are the most common primary brain tumors in adults and Medulloblastomas, astrocytoma, and ependymomas in children. Treatment depends upon the stage, area, size, and kind of mind growth. Therapy choices include a medical procedure, radiation treatment, and chemotherapy.

Palliative care is important before, during, and after cancer treatment to improve quality of life by reducing symptoms.  What are the types of brain tumors?

Types of brain tumors include:

1. Primary brain tumors - tumors that originate in brain tissue. 1. Glial Brain Tumor - a tumor originating from glial cells or non-neuronal cells in the brain. 

2. Non-glial brain tumor - a tumor in the nerves, blood vessels, and glands of the brain. 

3. Benign brain tumor - non-cancerous tumor. 

4. Malignant brain tumor - cancer in the brain. 

2. Secondary or metastatic brain tumors - tumors that start elsewhere in the body and then spread to the brain.  PRIMARY BRAIN TUMORS:

 1. Gangliocytoma - This is a rare tumor that originates from mature nerve cells.

2. Meningioma - This accounts for about 10-15% of all brain tumors and is the most common benign brain tumor. This tumor arises from the meninges, which are the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. 

3. Craniopharyngiomas - These tumors are difficult to remove because of their location deep in the brain because they come from the pituitary gland. 

3. Pineocytomas - Tumors that arise from the cells of the pineal gland are called pineocytomas. They are normally slow-developing and clear-cut.

4. Schwannomas - Primary brain tumors that arise from  Schwann cells, which are cells that help with nerve impulses, are called schwannomas. Acoustic neuroma, which originates from the vestibulocochlear nerve (the nerve between the brain and the ear), is the most common type. 

5. Pituitary Adenomas - These tumors arise from the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. Since the pituitary gland controls most of the hormones produced in the body, the effects of this tumor can be seen throughout the body.

 6. Gliomas - This represents almost 78% of all malignant brain tumors in adults. These tumors arise from cells in the brain or spinal cord called glia.

Types of glioma include:

1. Ependymomas - When the ependymal cells lining the ventricular system become cancerous, they produce ependymomas. 

2. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) - Also called glioblastoma, this is the most invasive type of glioma. They originate from stellate glial cells such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. GBM develops quickly and spreads to different tissues.

 3. Astrocytomas - This is the most common glioma. They create astrocytes, which are star-molded glial cells. They usually occur in the brain.

4. Brain stem glioma - tumors that arise in the lower part of the brain.

 5. Medulloblastomas - This is the most common brain tumor in children and originates in the cerebellum (the lower back of the brain). 

6. Oligodendroglia - These tumors arise from cells that produce myelin (the insulating layer of nerves in the brain and spinal cord). Secondary brain tumors:

People who have had cancer in any part of the body are prone to secondary brain tumors. Secondary brain tumors are more common in adults than primary brain tumors.

Common types of cancer that can cause a metastatic brain tumor include:

1.   Breast cancer. 

2.   Lung cancer.

3.   Melanoma. 

4.   Colon cancer. 

5.   Kidney cancer. 

Other tumors that can affect the brain:

 1. Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors - These are highly invasive and rare tumors that spread throughout the central nervous system. They occur in many parts of the body and are common in young children. 

2. Hemangioblastomas - These tumors originate from blood vessels.  What are the early signs and symptoms of a brain tumor? Symptoms depend on the size, type, and location of the tumor. Symptoms usually occur when a tumor presses on a nerve or part of the brain.

Common early signs and symptoms include:

                        •  A severe headache that usually starts in the morning.

§The headache gradually becomes severe and frequent. 

§  Nausea and vomiting.

§  Speech problems.

§  Visual changes.

§  Hearing difficulties.

§  Problems with balance and walking. 

§  Change of personality.

§  Moods.

§  Inability to concentrate. 

§  Memory problems. 

§  Twitches.

§  Seizures.

§  Shivering or deadness in the hands or feet.

 

Don’t hesitate:

There are many other diseases that can cause similar symptoms, so do not panic and visit your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Risk factors:

    1. Radiation.

    2. People with a family history of brain tumors are at risk. 

How does a doctor diagnose a brain tumor?

To diagnose a brain tumor, a neurologist will first perform a physical exam and ask you in detail about your symptoms. The doctor will perform a detailed neurological examination and check that your cranial nerves are healthy. He can also check your vision, muscle strength, memory, coordination and balance. In addition, they may ask you to complete some of the following tests

1. X-ray - checks if the brain tumor has broken the bones of the skull. They also have calcium deposits, which can occur in some types of tumors.

2. CT head - A CT scan of the brain helps the doctor clearly see the blood vessels and other structures of the brain.

3. MRI of the head - magnetic resonance imaging of the head provides more detailed images of the brain.

4. Angiography - This involves injecting a dye that travels into the arteries of the brain. This helps the doctor see the blood supply to the tumor.

5. Biopsy - The doctor collects a small piece of the brain tumor and examines the cells under a microscope. This is done to determine if the tumor is benign or malignant.

What are the classes of brain tumors?

Your doctor will evaluate your brain tumor based on how the cells look under the microscope:

1.   Grade I - benign tissue - the cells look almost like normal brain cells and proliferate slowly.

2.   Grade II - malignant tissue - cells look less like normal brain cells than grade I.

3.   Grade III - Malignant tissue - The cells look very different from normal brain cells.

4.   Grade IV - Malignant tissue - these cells look abnormal and multiply rapidly.

Grades I and II are second-rate growths, and grades III and IV are high-grade cancers. In some cases, a low-grade tumor can become high-grade over time.

 Can a brain tumor be cured?

Treatment options include:

a.   Surgery If the tumor is well-defined and easily accessible, the neurosurgeon will attempt to remove the entire brain tumor. But if the tumor has irregular edges and cannot be distinguished from the surrounding tissue, or if it is located in a sensitive area of ​​the brain, surgery is not recommended, or the surgeon tries to remove as much of the tumor as possible safely. . .

b.  Minimally invasive scar brain surgery Here, brain surgery is performed through a small incision and special instruments, so there is no need to cut large sections of the skull (craniotomy) to gain better access. Removing the tumor using this method reduces the risk of serious complications.

c.   Chemotherapy Here, drugs are used to destroy tumor cells. These drugs can be taken either orally or injected into a vein. Temozolomide is the most common chemotherapy drug used to treat brain tumors.

d.  Targeted treatment These drugs target and block specific abnormalities in cancer cells. These actions kill cancer cells.

e.  Radiation therapy

Here, high-energy rays such as X-rays or protons are used to destroy tumor cells. Two types of radiation therapy are used:

·      External beam radiation - when the radiation used in the treatment comes from a machine outside the body.

·      Brachytherapy - Here the radiation source is placed in the body and near the tumor. Headache, fatigue, and memory loss are common side effects of radiation therapy.

6) Radiosurgery: Contrary to what the name suggests, it is not a type of surgery, but radiosurgery is the use of multiple beams of radiation to destroy tumor cells in a small area.

The types of radiosurgery used to treat brain tumors are Gamma Knife or Linear Accelerator.

 Rehabilitation:

Because brain tumors can affect motor skills, vision, speech and thinking, rehabilitation is essential for a full recovery. Depending on your needs, your doctor may recommend physical therapy to restore lost motor skills, occupational therapy to help you return to a normal routine after brain surgery, and speech therapy to treat speech difficulties.

The prognosis for a brain tumor depends on your general health and the size, location, and type of the tumor. Early detection and treatment can forestall serious difficulties. So, if you have symptoms of a brain tumor, be sure to contact your doctor online by phone or video call.

The above article is an informative one and not a Specialist consultant's view. Always consult a specialist for expert opinion.