Brain tumors are the solid mass that may grow on the brain, which may lead to life-threatening complications. Brain tumors can develop in any part of the brain such as the upper portion of the brain, blood vessels, in the nerves or deep inside the brain. Some of these Brain tumors are benign (non-cancerous) in nature and they cannot spread through blood vessels, but they are still dangerous. But some malignant forms such as meningioma, glioblastoma multiforme, oligodendrocytoma and other similar types of cancer can spread to the distant organs. In adults, brain tumor can occur in the age of 40–60 years. Brain tumors can form in children and some forms of brain tumors are untreatable. Brain tumors are classified into Primary and Secondary tumors. In adults, the primary brain tumor can form in the cerebral hemispheres and in children it may be in the posterior cranial fossa; if it is in pituitary gland, hormonal dysfunctions may occur depending on the gender. The Secondary tumors are the metastatic tumors and they can spread rapidly.
Causes of Brain tumors
In children, the causes of Brain tumors are believed to be genetic mutations. But in adults, the exact molecular pathology is still unknown and some of the unconfirmed scientific reports suggest that use of cell phones with high SAR can cause brain tumors.
Symptoms
If the Brain tumor is metastatic is nature, the patient may experience:
- Headache
- Seizures
- Paraplegia
- Nausea or vomiting
- Changes in vision, taste, smell and voice patterns
- Tremors
- Vertigo-like symptoms with lack of coordination
- Troubled walking, standing and speaking
If the Brain tumor is benign or if it is present in the pituitary gland:
- Obesity
- Hormonal changes with absence of menstruation, male voice, hair in the body and face, etc.
- In male, gynecomastia, nipple discharge and obesity can occur.
Diagnosis
- CT
- MRI
- CSF analysis
- CT guided–Brain tissue biopsy (an invasive test)
- Serum blood glucose levels
- Clinical and medical examinations
- X-ray
- Neurological examinations to assess sensory and reflex functions
Treatment Options
In adults with cancerous Brain tumors:
- Chemotherapy
- Surgery
- Radiation
- Physical therapy, if needed
- Palliative care, if untreated.
In children with benign tumors:
· Pain medications such as NSAIDs
· Anti-convulsants
· Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
· Diuretics to reduce edema
· Antacids and anti-secretory drugs to reduce gastritis and ulcers
· Physical therapy
· If untreatable, Palliative care with narcotics.
Prognosis
The prognosis of brain tumor depends on the type of the tumor and the staging. If the brain tumor is benign and if it is present on the upper side of the brain, the tumor can be surgically removed and the prognosis is good. If it is in deep areas, surgery may difficult or impossible. In this case, the prognosis is poor. In case of Metastatic cancer, the tumors will not respond to chemotherapy and the survival rate is poor. After the diagnosis of brain tumor, the average survival life span is less than 2 years. The prognosis of brain tumor in children is very poor and the mortality is comparatively higher than the adults.
Prevention
As of now, there are no preventive measures for both forms of brain tumors.
When to see a doctor
If you experience abnormal headache, vision, sensory, taste, smell changes or disability in any of the body functions with pain or fatigue, you need to consult a neurologist or a physician, right away.
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