What Is The Most Common Type Of Brain Tumor

How Is A Diagnosis Made

First, the doctor will obtain your personal and family medical history and perform a complete physical examination. In addition to checking your general health, the doctor performs a neurological exam to check mental status and memory, cranial nerve function , muscle strength, coordination, reflexes, and response to pain. Additional tests may include:

• Audiometry, a hearing test performed by an audiologist, detects hearing loss due to tumors near the cochlear nerve .
• An endocrine evaluation measures hormone levels in your blood or urine to detect abnormal levels caused by pituitary tumors .
• A visual field acuity test is performed by a neuro-ophthalmologist to detect vision loss and missing areas in your field of view.
• A lumbar puncture may be performed to examine cerebrospinal fluid for tumor cells, proteins, infection, and blood.

Imaging tests

Biopsy

Biomarkers or genetic mutations found in the tumor may help determine prognosis. These include: IDH1, IDH2, MGMT, and 1p/19q co-deletion.

Figure 4.

What Dogs Are Most Susceptible To Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors

Peripheral nerve sheath tumors can occur in all dogs no breed has been singled out as having a higher risk over others. Some of the symptoms you can look for include, but are not limited to:

• Limb lameness in both fore and hind limbs
• Asymmetry in the muscles of the head
• If the tumor is in the neck, only one side of the face will be affected. This may be indicated by a droopy eyelid, paralysis on one side of the face, decreased pupil size and/or a slight elevation of the lower eyelid.

Where Brain Cancers Start And Spread

A brain tumor is a mass of cells in your brain that isnât normal. There are two general groups of brain tumors:

• Primary brain tumors start in the brain and tend to stay there.
• Secondary brain tumors are more common. These cancers start somewhere else in your body and travel to the brain. Lung, breast, kidney, colon, and skin cancers are among the most common cancers that spread to your brain.

Some brain tumors contain cancer cells and others don’t:

• Benign brain tumors don’t have cancer cells. They grow slowly, can often be removed, and rarely spread to the brain tissue around them. They can cause problems if they press on certain areas of the brain. Depending on the part of the brain theyâre in, they can be life-threatening.
• Malignant brain tumors have cancer cells. Some grow quickly and others slowly. They can invade healthy brain tissue nearby. Malignant tumors rarely spread beyond your brain or spinal cord.

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Grades Of Brain Tumors

Tumors are graded by how normal or abnormal the cells look. The doctor will use this measurement to help plan your treatment. The grading also gives you an idea of how fast the tumor may grow and spread.

• Grade 1. The cells look nearly normal and grow slowly. Long-term survival is likely.
• Grade 2. The cells look slightly abnormal and grow slowly. The tumor may spread to nearby tissue and can come back, maybe at a more life-threatening grade.
• Grade 3. The cells look abnormal and are actively growing into nearby brain tissue. These tumors tend to come back.
• Grade 4. The cells look most abnormal and grow and spread quickly.

Some tumors change. Rarely, some benign tumors can turn malignant, and a lower-grade tumor may return at a higher grade.

Other Brain Tumor Types

• Pituitary tumors are usually benign tumors that start in the pituitary gland and represent around 15 percent of all primary brain tumors.
• Chordomas are rare, slow-growing tumors that form along the spine and sometimes metastasize to other parts of the body.
• Schwannomas, also called acoustic neuromas, neurilemmomas and vestibular schwannomas, develop from Schwann cells which form the protective coating around nerve fibers. They are usually slow-growing and benign.
• Gangliogliomas are extremely rare tumors, more common among children and young adults, that involve neurons and glial cells.
• Craniopharyngiomas grow near the base of the brain, and because they develop in close proximity to the pituitary region and optic nerves, may affect hormones and vision when they grow.
• Lymphomas are aggressive tumors that start in immune system cells called lymphocytes. Lymphomas that begin in the brain are more common among people who are immunocompromised, such as those with HIV.
• Medulloblastomas are fast-growing tumors that develop from neuroectodermal cells in the cerebellum.

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What Is The Difference Between Primary And Metastatic Brain Tumors

Primary brain tumors are those that originate from the brain or tissues close to the brain. Tumors arising from the meninges, cranial nerves, pituitary gland, or pineal gland are also called primary brain tumors.

Metastatic brain tumors are also known as secondary brain cancer. They are cancerous cells or tumors that are formed in other organs of the body and have spread to the brain. The two most common types of cancer that cause metastatic brain tumors are lung cancer and breast cancer, followed by kidney cancer, colon cancer, and skin cancer .

In adults, metastatic brain tumors are much more common than primary brain tumors. They often occur in people who have had cancer in the past.

Surgery For Pediatric Brain Tumors

Surgery is usually the first step in treating brain tumors in children. Our goal within the Pediatric Surgical Oncology Program is to remove all or as much of the tumor as possible while maintaining neurological function.

Pediatric brain tumor patients have a particular advantage when coming to CHOP because of the extensive experience of our neurosurgeons and the close collaboration between neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, radiation oncology and diagnostic radiology.

• High-dose chemotherapy, stem-cell rescue and blood and marrow transplantation
• Supportive care for the side effects of the tumor or treatment
• Rehabilitation to regain lost motor skills and muscle strength
• Continuous follow-up care to manage disease, detect recurrence of the tumor and manage late effects of treatment

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A Meningioma Diagnosis May Occur When The Doctor Is Looking For Something Else

Brain tumor diagnosis is often incidental that is, the doctor discovers a tumor on a CT or MRI while examining the individual for another reason such as a head injury or another neurologic problem.

When a doctor diagnoses a meningioma, you will get further tests to find out how the tumor is likely to behave. Based on these data, a neurosurgeon will recommend removing the tumor or just watching it to see if it grows.

What Causes Brain Tumors

Researchers know brain tumors develop when certain genes on the chromosomes of a cell are damaged and no longer function properly, but they arent sure why this happens. Your DNA in your chromosomes tells cells throughout your body what to do it tells them when to grow, when to divide or multiply and/or when to die.

When brain cell DNA changes, it gives your brain cells new instructions. Your body develops abnormal brain cells that grow and multiply faster than normal and sometimes live longer than normal. When that happens, the ever-growing crowd of abnormal cells takes over space in your brain.

In some cases, a person may be born with changes in one or more of these genes. Environmental factors, such as exposure to large amounts of radiation from X-rays or previous cancer treatment, may then lead to further damage.

In other cases, the environmental injury to the genes may be the only cause.

There are a few rare, inherited genetic syndromes that are associated with brain tumors, including:

These changes can point to the part of your brain that may be affected by a tumor.

If your healthcare provider suspects you may have a brain tumor, a brain scan, most often an MRI, is usually the next step.

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Different Types Of Brain Tumors

When it comes to exploring the types of brain tumors, it is important to understand that primary brain tumors are only in the brain and in the central nervous system. Their names entirely depend on the kind of cell that initiates their formation. In general, there are more than a hundred types of brain tumors, and analyzing all of them is not possible. But there are some common types of brain tumors in adults. This includes:

When Should I See My Healthcare Provider About My Brain Tumor

If youve been diagnosed with a brain tumor, youll need to see your healthcare team regularly to receive treatment and monitor your symptoms.

You should see your healthcare provider if your brain tumor symptoms get worse or you have new symptoms.

Even after brain tumor treatment, you should follow up with your healthcare provider regularly.

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What Are The Symptoms

Tumors can affect the brain by destroying normal tissue, compressing normal tissue, or increasing intracranial pressure. Symptoms vary depending on the tumorâs type, size, and location in the brain . General symptoms include:

• headaches that tend to worsen in the morning
• speech problems
• vision problems, abnormal eye movements
• weakness on one side of the body
• increased intracranial pressure, which causes drowsiness, headaches, nausea and vomiting, sluggish responses

Figure 2.

Specific symptoms include:

What You Need To Know

• Meningioma is the most common type of primary brain tumor, accounting for approximately 30 percent of all brain tumors.
• These tumors originate in the meninges, which are the outer three layers of tissue between the skull and the brain that cover and protect the brain just under the skull.
• Meningiomas grow out of the middle layer of the meninges called the arachnoid. They grow slowly and may exist for years before being detected. Sometimes doctors will discover a meningioma incidentally on a magnetic resonance imaging scan of the head or spinal cord.

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What Increases Your Risk Of Brain Cancer

Things that put you at higher risk for getting brain cancer are called risk factors. There are very few known causes of primary brain tumors, although age, certain genetic syndromes and radiation exposure play a role in some cases. Factors that increase the risk of a brain tumor include:

• Radiation exposure from high-dose radiation therapy and other sources.
• Age people tend to be diagnosed either in childhood or as older adults.
• Immune system disorders increase the risk that a person will develop lymphomas affecting the brain and spinal cord.

How Common Are Meningiomas

Around one third of all brain tumors are classified as meningiomas. These cancers develop in the meninges, which are protective tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord. Meningiomas tend to be slower-growing than other types of brain cancer, and the associated outcomes are often favorable with timely treatment.

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Where To Get Comprehensive Treatment For Brain Cancer

As a founding member of the National Cancer Institutes Adult Brain Tumor Consortium, Moffitt Cancer Center treats even the most uncommon types of brain cancer. Our tumor board meets each week to discuss complex and challenging cases, and our clinical researchers are continually investigating the newest and most effective forms of brain tumor treatment.

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Arnold Etame, Neurosurgeon, Department of Neuro-Oncology

If youve been diagnosed with or are experiencing symptoms of a brain tumor, you can schedule an appointment at Moffitt Cancer Center with or without a physicians referral. Call or submit a new patient registration form online to request a visit with an oncologist in our specialized Neuro-Oncology Program.

Can Brain Tumors Be Prevented

Unfortunately, you cant prevent a brain tumor. You can reduce your risk of developing a brain tumor by avoiding environmental hazards such as smoking and excessive radiation exposure.

If you have a first-degree biological relative who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, its important to tell your healthcare provider. They may recommend genetic counseling to see if you have an inherited genetic syndrome thats associated with brain tumors.

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Types Of Primary Brain Tumors

There are many types of primary brain tumors. Some cannot be assigned an exact type because the tumors location makes it too difficult to remove for full testing.

Descriptions of more common brain tumor types in adults are described below, divided into glioma and non-glioma tumor types. Learn about brain tumors in children in a different guide on this same website.

Gliomas

As a group, gliomas are one of the most common types of brain tumors. While the exact origin of gliomas is still unknown, they are thought to grow from glial cells or glial precursor cells. A glial cell is a type of supportive cell in the brain. The main types of supportive cells in the brain include astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and ependymal cells. Gliomas may be considered astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, or ependymoma. Gliomas are assigned a grade, which is an indication of how aggressive a tumor is likely to be. A higher grade is usually more aggressive and more likely to grow quickly. However, current research is helping doctors move toward using tumor genetics to better classify gliomas. This is discussed later in this guide.

Currently, the types of gliomas include:

Non-glioma tumors

Types Of Brain Cancer

Astrocytomas, which are the most common central nervous system tumor, arise anywhere in the brain or spinal cord, and develop from small, star-shaped cells called astrocytes. In adults, astrocytomas most often occur in the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain. The cerebrum uses sensory information to tell us whats going on around us and how the body should respond. The cerebrum also controls speech, movement and emotions, as well as reading, thinking and learning.

Brain stem gliomas are a type of astrocytoma that forms in the brain stem, which controls many vital functions, such as body temperature, blood pressure, breathing, hunger and thirst. The brain stem also transmits all the signals to the body from the brain. The brain stem is in the lowest part of the brain and connects the brain and spinal cord. Tumors in this area can be difficult to treat. Most brain stem gliomas are high-grade astrocytomas.

Glioblastoma multiforme, also known as glioblastoma, GBM or grade 4 astrocytoma, is a fast-growing, aggressive type of brain tumor that forms on the supportive tissue of the brain. Glioblastoma is the most common grade 4 brain cancer. Glioblastomas may appear in any lobe of the brain, but they develop more commonly in the frontal and temporal lobes. Glioblastomas usually affect adults.

Aside from astrocytomas, there are a number of different primary brain tumors and other nervous system tumors that form from glial cells. They include:

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Brain Tumors In Adolescents And Young Adults

• Approximately 31,299 adolescents and young adults are estimated to be living with a brain tumor in the U.S.
• Approximately 14.5% of all brain tumors occur in the AYA population
• An estimated 12,072 new cases of AYA brain tumors will be diagnosed in 2022
• Brain tumors are the second most common cancer overall in individuals ages 15-39 years
• Brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer-related death overall in this age group
• The five-year relative survival rate for AYA patients diagnosed with a primary brain tumor is 90.6%
• The rate is 71.5% for malignant tumors and 98.2% for non-malignant tumors

Brain Tumor Risk Factors

Researchers are studying whether people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop a brain tumor. Studies have found that ionizing radiation from high-dose x-rays and other sources can cause cell damage that leads to a tumor. People exposed to ionizing radiation may have an increased risk of a brain tumor, such as meningioma or glioma.

Researchers are also studying whether other brain tumor risk factors exist, such as cell phone use, past head injuries or exposure to certain chemicals or magnetic fields. Studies have not shown conclusive proof of these possible risk factors and brain tumors, but additional research is needed.

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What Are The Symptoms Of A Brain Tumor

The following are the most common symptoms of a brain tumor. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms vary depending on size and location of tumor. Many symptoms are related to an increase in pressure in or around the brain, except in very young children , as there is no spare space in the skull for anything except the delicate tissues of the brain and its fluid. Any tumor, extra tissue, or fluid can cause pressure on the brain and result in the following symptoms:

• Increased intracranial pressure – caused by extra tissue or fluid in the brain. Pressure may increase because one or more of the ventricles that drain cerebrospinal fluid has been blocked, causing the fluid to be trapped in the brain. Increased ICP can cause the following:

The symptoms of a brain tumor may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child’s physician for a diagnosis.

How Can You Tell If A Brain Tumor Is Benign Or Malignant

You cannot determine whether a tumor is benign or malignant from symptoms alone. While your doctor may be able to tell you the nature of your tumor from an MRI scan, that is not always possibleimaging tests do not provide a confirmatory diagnosis.

In most cases, a biopsy is required. A biopsy involves the surgical removal of a small piece of the brain that is sent to a lab for analysis under a microscope.

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