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Brain tumors - primary - Highlights

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of brain tumors.

Alternative Names

Gliomas; Medulloblastomas

Highlights:

Primary Brain Tumors

Primary brain tumors are tumors that start in the brain. There are many types and subtypes of primary brain tumors. They include gliomas (which include astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and ependydomas), meningomas, medullablastomas, pituitary adenomas, and central nervous system lymphomas.

Causes

The exact causes of primary brain tumors are unknown. Genetic factors and inherited disorders play a role in some types of brain tumors.

Risk Factors

Risk factors for brain tumors vary according to the type of tumor. Some types of tumors are more prevalent in men than in women. Some types of brain tumors usually occur in children, while others are more common in older people.

Prognosis

Survival rates in people with brain tumors depend on many different variables:

Type of tumor
Location and size of tumor (these factors affect whether the tumor can be removed surgically or not)
Tumor grade
Patient's age
Patient's ability to function
How far the tumor has spread

Symptoms

Brain tumors produce a variety of symptoms, including headache, seizure, and neurological changes. Symptoms may be subtle and gradually become worse or they may occur very rapidly.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of brain tumors involves a neurological exam and various types of imaging tests. Imaging techniques include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Biopsies may be performed as part of surgery to remove a tumor, or as a separate diagnostic procedure.

Treatment

The standard approach for treating brain tumors is to reduce the tumor as much as possible using surgery, radiation treatment, or chemotherapy. Such treatments are typically used in combination with each other.

Resources

www.abta.org -- American Brain Tumor Association
www.cbtf.org -- Children's Brain Tumor Foundation
www.virtualtrials.com -- Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research and Information
www.braintumor.org -- National Brain Tumor Society
www.neurosurgery.org -- American Association of Neurologic Surgeons
www.cancer.org -- American Cancer Society
www.cancer.gov -- National Cancer Institute
www.asco.org -- American Society for Clinical Oncology
www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials -- Find clinical trials
www.radiologyinfo.org -- RadiologyInfo
www.cancer.net -- Cancer.Net

References

Bowers DC, Liu Y, Leisenring W, McNeil E, Stovall M, Gurney JG, et al. Late-occurring stroke among long-term survivors of childhood leukemia and brain tumors: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Clin Oncol. 2006 Nov 20;24(33):5277-82. Epub 2006 Nov 6.

Buckner JC, Brown PD, O'Neill BP, Meyer FB, Wetmore CJ, Uhm JH. Central nervous system tumors. Mayo Clin Proc. 2007 Oct;82(10):1271-86.

Chandana SR, Movva S, Arora M, Singh T. Primary brain tumors in adults. Am Fam Physician. 2008 May 15;77(10):1423-30.

Krex D, Klink B, Hartmann C, von Deimling A, Pietsch T, Simon M, et al. Long-term survival with glioblastoma multiforme. Brain. 2007 Oct;130(Pt 10):2596-606. Epub 2007 Sep 4.

Nathan PC, Patel SK, Dilley K, Goldsby R, Harvey J, Jacobsen C, et al. Guidelines for identification of, advocacy for, and intervention in neurocognitive problems in survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Children's Oncology Group. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007 Aug;161(8):798-806.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Central nervous system cancers. V.1.2008

Neglia JP, Robison LL, Stovall M, Liu Y, Packer RJ, Hammond S, et al. New primary neoplasms of the central nervous system in survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2006 Nov 1;98(21):1528-37.

Norden AD, Young GS, Setayesh K, Muzikansky A, Klufas R, Ross GL, et al.Bevacizumab for recurrent malignant gliomas: efficacy, toxicity, and patterns of recurrence. Neurology. 2008 Mar 4;70(10):779-87.

Sathornsumetee S, Reardon DA, Desjardins A, Quinn JA, Vredenburgh JJ, Rich JN. Molecularly targeted therapy for malignant glioma. Cancer. 2007 Jul 1;110(1):13-24.

Wen PY, Kesari S. Malignant gliomas in adults. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jul 31;359(5):492-507.

Reviewed last on: 12/5/2008
Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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