Brain Tumor
Senator Ted Kennedy, Death of a Legend
Medical Author: Benjamin C Wedro, MD,
FAAEM
Medical Editor: Melissa Stoppler, M.D.
 When one of our political leaders becomes ill, it makes headline news.
Senator Ted Kennedy suffered a seizure on Saturday,
May 17, 2008 which led to a quick visit to Cape Cod Hospital and a medical
helicopter flight to Massachusetts General Hospital, home base for Harvard
Medical School. On May 20,
2008 doctors announced that a tumor had been identified as the cause of the
seizure. Tissue samples taken at biopsy revealed that
Senator Kennedy has a malignant glioma of the parietal lobe of his brain.
Senator Kennedy passed away from the malignant glioma tumor on August 25, 2009
at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts at the age of 77.
Seizures occur when the brain becomes irritable and
abnormal electrical
firings cause alterations in normal brain function. Usually, the patient becomes
temporarily unresponsive and the exact location of the electrical short circuits
will determine what abnormal physical findings are witnessed. If they involve
the part of the brain that deals with movement, there may be rhythmic shaking or
jerking. The seizure may involve just a mild absence or staring spell. It may be
preceded by an aura in which the patient knows that a seizure is about to occur.
There may be a post-ictal or recovery phase, in which the patient slowly returns
to normal function as the brain resets itself. There are
many different variants
of seizures, and eventually a neurologist will get
involved with the diagnosis
and treatment.
What is the brain?
The brain is a soft, spongy mass of tissue. It is protected by the bones of the skull and three thin
membranes called meninges. Watery fluid called cerebrospinal fluid cushions the brain. This fluid flows through spaces between the meninges and through spaces within the brain called
ventricles.
A network of nerves carries messages back and forth between the brain and the rest of the body. Some nerves go directly from the brain to the eyes, ears, and other parts of the head. Other nerves run through the spinal cord to connect the brain with the other parts of the body. Within the brain and spinal cord,
glial cells surround nerve cells and hold them in place.
The brain directs the things we choose to do (like
walking and talking) and the things our body does without thinking (like breathing). The brain is also in charge of our senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell), memory, emotions, and personality.
The three major parts of the brain control different activities:
- Cerebrum - The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain. It is at the top of the brain. It uses information from our senses to tell us what is going on around us and tells our body how to respond. It controls reading, thinking, learning, speech, and emotions.
The cerebrum is divided into the left and right cerebral hemispheres, which control separate activities. The right hemisphere controls the muscles on the left side of the body. The left hemisphere controls the muscles on the right side of the body.
- Cerebellum - The cerebellum is under the cerebrum at the back of the brain. The cerebellum controls balance and complex actions like walking and talking.
- Brain Stem - The brain stem connects the brain with the spinal cord. It controls hunger and thirst. It also controls breathing, body temperature, blood pressure, and other basic body functions.
The brain and nearby structures
Major parts of the brain
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Brain Tumor
Adult Brain Tumors »
What are adult brain tumors?
Adult brain tumors are diseases in which cancer (malignant) cells begin to
grow in the tissues of the brain. The brain controls memory and learning, senses
(hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch), and emotion. It also controls other
parts of the body, including muscles, organs, and blood vessels. Tumors that
start in the brain are called primary brain tumors.
What are metastatic brain tumors?
Often, tumors found in the brain have
started somewhere else in the body and spread (metastasized) to the brain. These
are called metastatic brain tumors.
What are the symptoms of an adult brain tumor?
A doctor should be seen if the
following symptoms appear:
- Frequent headaches.
- Vomiting.
- Loss of appetite.
- Changes in mood and personality.
- Changes in ability to think and learn.
- Seizure...
Read the Adult Brain Tumors article »
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