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.

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. Today, most medical institutions use the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system to identify brain tumors. See similar questions...

The most definitive and diagnosis of brain tumors are done by analyzing a fragment of the tumor under the microscope by the pathologist. The surgeon removes a piece of the tumor and sends it to the pathologist. Using special tissue staining methods, the pathologist can tell whether the tumor is classified under a benign or malignant category. However, this is only the first step in a patient's management. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

During surgery, a section of the tumor is quick-frozen and then examined by the neurosurgeon. This "frozen-section" method gives the doctor some idea of whether the tumor is cancerous or not, but it is not the definitive word. A detailed pathological report may take up to two days or longer if the sample is sent to another laboratory for further examination. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

A benign breast condition is any non-cancerous breast abnormality. The most common benign breast conditions include fibrocystic change, benign breast tumors, and breast inflammation. Most benign breast conditions such as fibrocystic change or fibroadenomas (small tumors) do not increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer later in life. See similar questions...

There's a sense of relief when a tumor is benign, and about half of all primary brain tumors are of this type. Meningiomas, benign tumors found in the brain's membrane lining and the spinal cord, account for between 15 % and 20 % of all primary brain tumors. However, cancerous or not, a tumor can create pressure on vital areas in the brain. Most benign brain tumors are treatable with surgery or radiation. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for brain tumors. See similar questions...

Yes, but benign lung tumors are rare. When they occur, they are treated in the same way as cancerous tumors because it may be hard to tell them apart before surgery. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

Coma is a state of profound unconsciousness where a person cannot be aroused. A person may recover from a coma as well as a brain injury. Brain death is the permanent loss of all functions of the brain, including the brain stem. Brain death is death. See similar questions...

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of nasal/sinus cancer and makes up approximately 70 percent of malignant tumors. It arises from the epithelial cells in the respiratory tract. Adenocarcinoma makes up approximately 10 to 20 percent of cancers in the sinuses and arises from glandular cells in the sinus lining. Lymphomas comprise approximately 5 percent of sinonasal cancers and arise from cells in the immune system or lymphatic channels. See similar questions...