Brain Tumor

*Brain tumor facts Medically Edited by: Charles P. Davis, MD, PhD

• Primary brain tumors can be either malignant (contain cancer cells) or benign (do not contain cancer cells).
• Brain tumors can occur at any age.
• The exact cause of brain tumors is not clear.
• Physicians group brain tumors by grade (the way the cells look under a microscope).
• Brain tumors are classified as grade I, grade II, or grade III, or grade IV
• There most common type of primary brain tumors among adults are astrocytoma, meningioma, and oligodendroglioma.
• The most common type of primary brain tumors in children are medulloblastoma, grade I or II astrocytoma, ependymoma, and brain stem glioma.
• Studies have found risk factors for brain tumors to include ionizing radiation from high dose X-rays (for example, radiation therapy where the machine is aimed at the head), and family history.
• The symptoms of brain tumors depend on their size, type, and location.
• The most common symptoms of brain tumors include headaches; numbness or tingling in the arms or legs; seizures, memory problems; mood and personality changes; balance and walking problems; nausea and vomiting; changes in speech, vision, or hearing.
• Brain tumors are diagnosed by the doctor based on the results of a medical history and physical examination and results of a variety of specialized tests of the brain and nervous system.
• Treatment of a brain tumor depends on the type, location, and size of the tumor, as well as the age and health of the patient.
• Options for brain tumor treatment include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy (or a combination of treatments).