In a brain tumour, cells grow
abnormally, but this doesn’t mean a tumour is cancerous.
Although brain tumours in adults can be caused by cancer, benign tumours are possible. These may be due to medical conditions or may have no obvious cause.
Primary brain tumours emerge from the various cells that make up the brain and central nervous system and are named based on the kind of cell they first form in. The most common types of adult brain tumours are gliomas, the commonest type of which is called an astrocytoma. These tumours form from cells called astrocytes, which are cells that help support the nerve cells.
The second most common types of adult brain tumours are meningiomas. These form in the meninges, the thin layer of tissue that lines the brain and spinal cord and can grow from a number of different kinds of brain and spinal cord cells.
Although brain tumours in adults can be caused by cancer, benign tumours are possible. These may be due to medical conditions or may have no obvious cause.
Primary brain tumours emerge from the various cells that make up the brain and central nervous system and are named based on the kind of cell they first form in. The most common types of adult brain tumours are gliomas, the commonest type of which is called an astrocytoma. These tumours form from cells called astrocytes, which are cells that help support the nerve cells.
The second most common types of adult brain tumours are meningiomas. These form in the meninges, the thin layer of tissue that lines the brain and spinal cord and can grow from a number of different kinds of brain and spinal cord cells.
What's the difference between
benign and malignant brain tumours?
Benign brain tumours are non-cancerous. Malignant
primary brain tumours are cancers that originate in the brain. They typically
grow faster than benign tumours and aggressively invade surrounding tissue.
Although brain cancer rarely spreads to other organs, it will spread to other
parts of the brain and central nervous system.
Benign brain tumours usually have clearly defined
borders and are not usually deeply rooted in brain tissue. This makes them
easier to surgically remove, assuming they are in an area of the brain that can
be safely operated on. However, even after they've been removed they can still
come back, though benign tumours are less likely than malignant ones to recur.
Although benign tumours in other parts of the body
can cause problems, they are not generally considered to be a major health
problem or to be life threatening. However, even a benign brain tumour can be a
serious health problem. Brain tumours damage the cells around them by causing
inflammation and putting increased pressure on the tissue under and around it
as well as inside the skull.
Symptoms of brain tumours vary according to the
type of tumour and the location. Because different areas of the brain control
different functions of the body, where the tumour lies affects the way it's
manifested.
Some tumours have no symptoms until they are quite
large and then cause a serious, rapid decline in health. Other tumours may have
symptoms that develop slowly.
A common initial symptom of a brain tumour is headaches,
but a lot of things besides a brain tumour can cause headaches. However, brain
tumour headaches may be described as worse in the morning and then better after
a couple of hours. Often they occur when a person is sleeping and will cause
the person to wake up. The headache may be accompanied by vomiting and
may get worse when the person changes position, coughs or exercises. The
headaches also typically don't respond well to the usual headache remedies.
Other common symptoms include:
·
Seizures
·
Changes
in speech or hearing
·
Changes
in vision
·
Balance
problems
·
Problems
with walking
·
Numbness
or tingling in the arms or legs
·
Problems
with memory
·
Personality
changes
·
Inability
to concentrate
·
Weakness
in one part of the body
It's important to keep in mind that these symptoms
can be caused by a number of different conditions. You shouldn't assume you
have a brain tumour just because you experience some of them. Seek medical
advice if you are concerned.
How are brain tumours diagnosed?
The doctor starts by asking questions about your
symptoms and taking a personal and family health history. Then he or she
performs a physical examination, including a neurological examination. If
there's reason to suspect a brain tumour, the doctor may request one or more of
the following tests:
·
Scanning
tests such as a CT (CAT) scan or MRI to see detailed images of the brain.
·
Angiogram,
which involves the use of dye and X-rays of blood vessels
in the brain to look for signs of blockage.
·
Spinal tap/Lumbar
puncture, which examines fluid taken from the spinal cord.
The doctor may also ask for a biopsy to
determine whether or not the tumour is cancer. A tissue sample is removed from
the brain either during surgery to remove the tumour or with a needle inserted
through a small hole drilled into the skull before treatment is started. The
sample is then sent to a laboratory to see if there is any cancer present.
- Surgery : Surgery is often the first treatment if the tumour can be removed without causing harm to the surrounding brain tissue. Treatment of brain cancer is usually complex. Most treatment plans involve several consulting doctors.The team of doctors includes neurosurgeons (surgical specialists in the brain and nervous system), oncologists, radiation oncologists (doctors who practice radiation therapy), and of course, your primary health-care provider. A patient's team may include a dietitian, a social worker, a physical therapist, and probably other specialists.
- Chemotherapy : Chemotherapy is not used to treat all brain tumours. It may be used for people with high-grade primary brain tumours, either as an initial treatment alongside radiotherapy, or where the tumour has come back. In this situation, chemotherapy is unlikely to be able to cure a brain tumour, but it can sometimes shrink a tumour down or slow its growth, which can reduce symptoms.
- Radiation therapy : Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is the use of high-energy rays to kills tumor cells, thereby stopping them from growing and multiplying.Radiation therapy may be used for people who cannot undergo surgery. In other cases, it is used after surgery to kill any tumor calls that may remain. Radiation therapy is a local therapy. This means that it affects only cells in its path. It does not harm cells elsewhere in the body or even elsewhere in the brain
Latest and Advanced Treatment options for Brain Tumor in India
Brain Tumor is no more a scary health condition as modern technology and advanced surgical modalities now offer near perfect clinical outcomes and the patients can soon return to normal life after surgery.
Brain Suite - Intra-operative MR Navigation Microsurgery
Trans-Nasal Endoscopic Removal of brain Tumor through the nose
Stereotactic Radiosurgery - Gamma Knife & Novalis TX
Tumor Embolization using Neuro Interventional Radiology
CyberKnife Radiosurgery
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