Even though it seems as if there are two types of brain tumors, benign and malignant, there are close to one hundred tumor types. Furthermore one can divide brain tumors into primary and metastatic types. The primary brain tumors arise from the cells that make up the brain and spinal cord or the tissues covering the brain. The metastatic tumors spread from another body site to the brain, and by definition, are always malignant.

Generally speaking, brain tumors can be categorized as benign (slow growing and noncancerous) and malignant (rapid growing and cancerous). Secondary tumors?those that originate in other parts of the body and then spread to the brain?are more common than primary tumors, which begin in the brain. Many types of brain tumors are named for the cells from which they grow or their location in the brain. Malignant brain tumors do not commonly occur. They make up only about 1.

Brain tumors are diagnosed through a combination of physical exam and diagnostic tests. A neurological exam assesses both a patient's physical condition?balance, sensory abilities, and muscle movement, for example?and his or her mental status. Next, images of the brain are captured by scanning techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT). In some cases, a physician may order a cerebral angiography, which is an X-ray of the brain's blood vessels.

That depends on the type and grade of tumor and the patient: Children and young adults generally tend to fare better than older patients, and women better than men. While the diagnosis of a brain tumor is serious, there is hope on several fronts. Of all primary tumors?those that originate in the brain?about half are benign and can be treated successfully.

Surgery is the primary form of treatment for brain tumors that lie within the membranes covering the brain or in parts of the brain that can be removed without damaging critical neurological functions. Because a tumor is likely to recur if any tumor cells are left behind, the goal of surgery is to remove the entire tumor whenever possible. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are generally used as secondary or adjuvant treatments for tumors that cannot be managed using only surgery.

Clinical trials are research studies that involve people. The studies are designed to determine the safety and side effects of new therapies, and the effectiveness of new and current treatments. Clinical trials usually undergo three phases before reaching completion. Each phase answers a question about the safety and effectiveness of the treatment being tested. Phase I trials test a treatment to determine a safe dosage and its side effects. Phase II trials test a treatment for its effectiveness.

There are many different kinds of brain tumors, and names for brain tumors. These names will often reflect the location of the tumor, the kinds of cells in the tumor, and the tumors level of aggressiveness. Scientists use the appearance of the tumor cells under a microscope to determine the kind of tumor. Tumors are also given a grade indicating the degree of malignancy. Grade 1 tumors are the slow growers, and are often considered non-malignant or benign.

Unfortunately, the cause of brain tumors is unknown. Just as there are many kinds of brain tumors, there may be just as many causes. There is likely a combination of factors. One thing known for sure is that brain tumors are not contagious. About 5% of primary brain tumors can be associated with hereditary factors. The cause of the remaining 95% of brain tumors is studied by scientists the world over.

Risk factors are certain factors that increase the chance of a person getting cancer. In the case of brain tumors, there is no known strong risk factor. But some things put people at higher risk. Impairment of the immune system, as with AIDS. Most of the tumors linked to an immune system defect are primary central nervous system lymphoma. Trauma is not considered a risk factor for brain tumors. Most people who get brain tumors do not have any known risk factors.

Once a brain tumor biopsy is examined by a pathologist, the tumor is categorized, or graded, based on its cell structure and rate of growth. There are different grading systems, but one that is commonly used has four grades. Grade I tumors are slow growing, with cells that are near-normal in appearance and are not malignant. Tumors with cells that are slightly abnormal are classified as Grade II. Grade III tumors grow quickly, contain abnormal cells, and spread to surrounding tissue.

Technology and computers, when used by a highly trained and skilled neurosurgical team, have revolutionized the approach to brain tumor surgery. During a traditional craniotomy, where the patient's skull is opened to expose the tumor area, the neurosurgeon is guided by pre-operative scans and what he or she is able to see at the time of the operation. Sometimes, in an attempt to remove as much of the tumor as possible, healthy tissue surrounding the mass is removed.

The process of diagnosing primary brain tumors is based on examining the tissue within the tumor under a microscope. This system relies substantially on the ability of the pathologist to recognize cellular patterns. It also has remained essentially unchanged since the 1950's. One exciting field of study in all oncology is attempting to isolate the genes that are active in these tumors and reclassify the tumors based on these more sophisticated tests.

Malignant brain tumors contain cancer cells. They can grow very quickly, invade and destroy healthy tissues, and may spread to other areas of the brain. Slower growing brain tumors, or tumors that do not contain cancer cells may be referred to as “benign” or “non-malignant.” However, because the brain is inside the hard skull, there is no room for abnormal growths of cells.

A tumor that starts growing in the brain is a primary brain tumor. These tumors may spread within the brain, but rarely travel to other sites in the body. Metastatic brain tumors are formed from cancer cells that originate in other parts of the body, and travel to the brain to form tumors. Cancers of the lung, breast, colon and melanoma often spread to the brain.

Hi. I'm a nursing student and I recently had a male patient, 64 yrs. old, who is diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus type 1, obesity, hypertension, a right below-the-knee amputation due to osteomyelitis, depression, chronic renal insufficiency, and a few other things, including poor wound healing. He has the typical Cushing's body type and the buffalo hump. He has no striae on his abdomen.

A majority of brain tumors and vessel problems (doctors call these vascular anomalies) require surgery. Unfortunately, there are cases that are inaccessible or unsuitable for operation, even in the best of hands. Only a certified neurosurgeon or a neurologist can help one decide what is best for a particular problem. Common sense tells us that among many, the two more important considerations are the size and the location of the lesion.

People with serious forms of anxiety demonstrate chronic over-activity in the areas of the brain associated with fear or nervousness. An inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma aminobutyricacid (GABA) works in these areas to diminish this excessive nerve cell activity. There is evidence that benzodiazepines cause an increase in the activity of GABA, thereby returning the system to a normal level and reducing the associated symptoms of anxiety.

Generally speaking, brain tumors manifest their presence in two ways: symptoms that reflect increased intracranial pressure and secondly, destruction or dysfunction of a particular area of the brain. Thus, one may have headaches, nausea or vomiting, and changes in alertness which are all pressure-related or one may exhibit language problems, hearing loss, paralysis or seizures which on the other hand be speak of structural problems in a particular area of the brain.