Brain tumor
Brain tumors are abnormal cell growths within the brain.
A brain tumor, sometimes referred to as brain cancer, occurs when a group of cells within the brain grow out of control, creating a mass. There are two main types: malignant (cancerous) tumors and benign (non-cancerous) tumors, which can be further classified as primary tumors (starting within the brain) or secondary tumors (spreading from elsewhere, known as brain metastasis). Symptoms vary depending on tumor size and location, and may include headaches, seizures, vision problems, vomiting, mental changes, difficulty walking or speaking, and unconsciousness.
- Types
- Malignant and benign; primary and secondary
- Common primary in adults
- Meningiomas (usually benign) and astrocytomas such as glioblastomas
- Common primary in children
- Malignant medulloblastoma
- Global annual incidence of primary tumor
- Around 250,000 people
- Percentage of all cancers
- Less than 2%
- Average five-year survival for malignant
- 33%
- Lifetime economic cost per case (New Sou
- AU$1.9 million
Lore & Background
Brain tumors can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on their location and size. For example, tumors in the frontal lobe may lead to poor reasoning, personality changes, and decreased speech production, while those in the temporal lobe can affect memory, hearing, and language comprehension. Headaches due to raised intracranial pressure can be an early symptom, often worse in the morning or after vomiting, and may be accompanied by visual abnormalities. Personality changes, including inappropriate social behavior, depression, and anxiety, can result from damage to the frontal, temporal, or parietal lobes.
Reader's Guide
The cause of most brain tumors is unknown, though up to 4% of brain cancers may be caused by CT scan radiation. Uncommon risk factors include exposure to vinyl chloride, Epstein–Barr virus, ionizing radiation, and inherited syndromes such as neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, and von Hippel-Lindau Disease. Studies on mobile phone exposure have not shown a clear risk. Diagnosis typically involves medical examination, CT or MRI, and often a biopsy. Treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy; some tumors require only monitoring. Outcomes vary widely: malignant glioblastomas usually have very poor outcomes, while benign meningiomas generally have good outcomes. Secondary brain tumors are about four times as common as primary ones, with about half of metastases originating from lung cancer.
Did You Know?
- Up to 4% of brain cancers may be caused by CT scan radiation.
- Secondary brain tumors are about four times as common as primary brain tumors.
- The average five-year survival rate for all malignant brain cancers in the United States is 33%.
- In children younger than 15, brain tumors are second only to acute lymphoblastic leukemia as the most common form of cancer.
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