Spinal tumors are uncommon. They are divided into several groups according to their source and their location. Metastatic tumors: These are tumors that have spread from somewhere else in the body. Lung cancers, gastrointestinal tumors, breast tumors, kidney tumors, myelomas and other cancers can spread to the spine. These usually affect the vertebral bones. If the diagnosis is known, the treatments are usually non-surgical. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are most commonly used.

The meaning of the word tumor is a "lump" or a "swelling", and in medical language it is used to indicate an abnormal, uncontrolled growth in any part of the body. You may think of it as a group of cells which rapidly divide and do not recognize any rule or limit. The brain tumors are similar to the tumors of other organs. However, since the brain is the center of many critical functions, tumors arising in this organ have serious outcomes.

Tumors are abnormal masses of tissue that form when cells begin to reproduce at an increased rate. The liver can grow both non-cancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) tumors.

The doctor does a complete physical exam with special attention to neurological examination. This includes checks for alertness, muscle strength, coordination, reflexes and response to pain. The doctor also examines the eyes for swelling caused by a tumor pressing on the nerve that connects the eye and the brain. The doctor may request a CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of the brain. The pictures are created by a computer linked to an X-ray machine.

A pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth of pituitary cells. Pituitary tumors can either be nonfunctional (that is they do not secrete hormones) or produce specific hormones, such as prolactin (causing infertility, decreased libido, and osteoporosis), growth hormone (causing acromegaly), ACTH (causing Cushing's), TSH (causing hypothyroidism), or be nonfunctional (that is they do not produce hormones).

A carcinoma-like tumor that behaves less aggressively than carcinomas. Usually carcinoids of the appendix are coincidental findings and have not spread until greater than 2 cm in diameter. Over 95% of appendiceal carcinoids are less than 2 cm in size.

A. If a polyp or tumor is found, another test such as flexible colonoscopy or surgery will be required for removal. This is the same for any noninvasive screening test. If we do find significant polyps (and if patient desires), we have made arrangements with gastroenterologists and colonorectal surgeons to have our patients seen the same day for optical colonoscopy in order to avoid returning another day and having another bowel prep. BACK TO TOP

There are two meanings of the word benign in reference to brain tumors. Just as brain tumors are not cancerous, brain tumors are benign because they do not spread outside the brain. However, growths in the brain are dangerous because of the importance of the brain and the limited amount of space inside the skull. Therefore, this meaning of the word benign is meaningless and misleading when applied to brain tumors. Brain tumors are often divided between benign and malignant tumors based on grade.

Many brain tumors may create complaints which force the patient to seek medical help. However, today more and more tumors are being recognized before they create complaints with the help of advanced radiological studies. These studies sometimes are performed for other reasons, and coincidentally lead to discovery of tumors. Even though the physician may find the effects of a brain tumor in the body, he/she can not feel or see them during a routine physical examination.

The most accurate, and sometimes the only way to accurately diagnose a brain tumor requires a biopsy. The surgeon performs the biopsy and the pathologist makes the final diagnosis, and can tell whether the tumor appears benign or malignant.

Benign probably is derived from the Latin word benigenus which means "a good kind" (bene= well, genus= born of, kind). In theory all benign tumors behave well and do not pose serious danger to the patient. Benign tumors are usually easily separated from normal tissues and therefore they can be removed surgically. However, tumors do not read books, so they are not aware of this sharp definition.

This word is derived from the Latin malignus which meant evil disposed, and is used as the opposite of benign. A malignant brain tumor is life-threatening. Malignant brain tumors possess certain chemicals which enable them to infiltrate into other tissues and spread into other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are almost impossible to remove totally by surgery, unless they are caught early in their course.

The Oncotype DX assay requires either one tumor block OR six 10-micron sections of tissue (three in each of two tubes) and an H&E slide from the same block. When blocks are submitted, typically 35 to 65 microns of tissue will be used.

A metastatic tumor is a malignant cancer that started in another organ in the body and then separated and moved to another organ such as the brain. The most common brain cancer is metastatic. Up to 30% of patients with a diagnosis of cancer will develop a metastatic tumor. Some cancers have a preference or predilection to move to the brain. These include kidney, lung, skin (melanoma), and breast.

The tumor is usually soft and can be removed with small surgical instruments called curettes. In order to remove a large tumor through a small hole, the tumor itself has to be cut into small pieces. As the surgeon cores out the center of tumor, the peripheral margin of the tumor has to fall into an area that can be reached by the surgeon. In Cushing's disease, the tumor is usually small, often too small to be seen on an MRI scan.

Benign brain tumors are slow-growing tumors that can be removed or destroyed if in an accessible location. Malignant tumors (brain cancer) are rapidly growing tumors that invade or infiltrate and destroy normal brain tissue. No one is certain why, but some benign brain tumors may change over time to become malignant. Tumors are graded to indicate how quickly they are growing. Most medical institutions use the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system to identify brain tumors.

A: Benign tumors are not cancer. They can usually be removed, and in most cases, they do not come back. Most important, the cells in benign tumors do not invade other tissues and do not spread to other parts of the body. Benign breast tumors are not a threat to life...Malignant tumors are cancer. The cancer cells grow and divide out of control. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs.

Technically, yes. A tumor is cancerous if it will spread, or metastasize, beyond it's original site to other parts of the body. Primary brain tumors rarely, if ever, spread outside the brain, so they are not technically cancer. However, psychologically and practically, brain tumors are a lot like cancerous tumors.

The first test that determined a tumor's HER2 status was approved in 1998. A tumor's HER2 status is now recognized as an important factor in determining the appropriate treatment for a patient with breast cancer. Be sure to tell your doctor about any health conditions you have had, as well as any new symptoms that arise. If you experience shortness of breath or swelling, call your doctor immediately. Individual patients may experience different side effects.

Oncotype DX is performed using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded invasive breast tumor tissue obtained by lumpectomy, mastectomy, or core biopsy.

Brain tumors can sometimes cause seizures. Often a seizure is the first symptom of a brain tumor. Because brain tumors can occur anywhere within the brain ? the symptoms depend on the location of the tumor. For example, a tumor that pushes against the optic or visual nerve may cause loss of vision. A tumor growing in the language centers of the brain may lead to trouble with speaking or understanding language.

Brain tumors behave differently depending on their cell type and rate of cell division. Rapidly dividing cells are classified as "malignant", while more slowly dividing cells are "benign". In the brain, tumor cells are classified by their rate of division along a spectrum of malignancy. Lower grade tumors (I and II) are more slowly dividing cells, while higher grade tumors (III and IV) are composed of more rapidly dividing cells. The higher grade tumors are considered malignant.

Some brain tumors are cancerous and some are not. Malignant tumors are considered cancer. Two of the most common forms of brain cancer are metastatic brain tumors (brain metastases) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Brain cancer cells mutate and lose their normal form or structure. This is called anaplasia. The degree of anaplasia helps to forecast a tumor's growth potential. The most rapidly growing tumors have the highest degree of anaplasia. Benign tumors are not considered cancer.

The standard treatments for brain tumors are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. In general, radiation and chemotherapy treatments are used as secondary or adjuvant treatments for tumors that cannot be managed using only surgery. However, radiation and chemotherapy may be used without surgery if the tumor is inoperable.