A brain tumor is a noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) growth in the brain. It may originate in the brain or have spread (metastasized) to the brain from another part of the body.

• Symptoms may include headaches, personality changes (such as suddenly becoming depressed, anxious, or uninhibited), loss of balance, trouble concentrating, seizures, and incoordination.
• Imaging tests can often detect brain tumors, but sometimes biopsy of the tumor is needed.
• Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination.

Brain tumors are slightly more common among men than women. Only meningiomas, which are noncancerous, are more common among women. Brain tumors usually develop during early or middle adulthood but may develop at any age. They are becoming more common among older people.

Brain tumors may be primary or secondary. Primary brain tumors originate in the cells within or next to the brain. These tumors may be cancerous or noncancerous. Either type of brain tumor is serious because the skull is rigid, providing no room for the tumor to expand. Also, tumors may develop near parts of the brain that control vital functions. Secondary brain tumors are metastases originating in another part of the body and thus are always cancerous.

Noncancerous tumors are named for the specific cells or tissues in which they originate. For example, hemangioblastomas originate in blood vessels (“hema” refers to blood vessels, and hemangioblasts are the cells that develop into blood vessel tissue). Some noncancerous tumors originate in cells of the embryo (embryonic cells), early in the development of the fetus. Such tumors may be present at birth.

The most common type of primary cancerous brain tumor is a glioma, which has several subtypes. Gliomas account for 65% of all primary brain tumors. However, most cancerous brain tumors are secondary—metastases from cancer that started in another part of the body.

Metastases may grow in a single part of the brain or in several different parts. Many types of cancer—including breast cancer, lung cancer, cancers of the digestive tract, malignant melanoma, leukemia, and lymphoma—can spread to the brain. Lymphomas of the brain are common among people who have AIDS and, for unknown reasons, are becoming more common among people who have a normal immune system.

Tumors That Originate in or Near the Brain Type of Tumor Origin Cancer Status Percentage of All Primary Brain Tumors* People Affected Adenoma Cells of the pituitary gland Mostly noncancerous 10% Adults Astrocytoma (a type of glioma) Cells of the tissue that supports nerve cells (glial cells) Cancerous or noncancerous (some initially noncancerous astrocytomas become cancerous after 3–5 years, becoming anaplastic astrocytomas) † Children and adults Chordoma Embryonic cells of the spinal column Noncancerous but invasive Less than 1% Children (may be present at birth) and adults Craniopharyngioma Embryonic cells from the pituitary gland Mostly noncancerous Less than 1% Children (may be present at birth) and adults Dermoid cysts and epidermoid tumors Embryonic cells of the skin Noncancerous Less than 1% Children and adults (dermoid cysts may be present at birth) Ependymoma Cells of the tissue that lines the spaces within the brain (ventricles) Mostly noncancerous About 1% and about 9% of childhood brain tumors Children Germ cell tumors (including germinomas) Embryonic cells near the pineal gland Cancerous or noncancerous 1% Children (germinomas may be present at birth) Glioblastoma multiforme (a type of glioma) Less differentiated forms of glial cells and oligodendrocytes Cancerous 40%† Adults Hemangioblastoma Embryonic cells that develop into blood vessels Noncancerous 1—2% Children and adults Medulloblastoma Embryonic cells of the cerebellum Cancerous 25% of childhood brain tumors Children (usually before puberty) and, rarely, adults Meningioma Cells of the layers of tissue covering the brain (meninges) Noncancerous but may recur 20% Adults Oligodendroglioma (a type of glioma) Cells that form the myelin sheath around nerve fibers in the brain (oligodendrocytes) Usually noncancerous but sometimes becomes cancerous (becoming anaplastic oligodendroglioma) 5-10%† Children and adults Osteoma Bones of the skull Noncancerous 2% Children and adults Osteosarcoma Bones of the skull Cancerous Less than 1% Children and adults Pinealoma Cells of the pineal gland Noncancerous Less than 1% Children Pituitary adenoma Cells of the pituitary gland Noncancerous 2% Children and adults Sarcoma Connective tissue Cancerous 1% Children and adults *Unless noted otherwise. †Astrocytomas, oligodendroglioma, and glioblastoma multiforme are gliomas, which account for 65% of all primary brain tumors.

Brain tumors can cause problems in the following ways:

• By directly invading and destroying brain tissue
• By directly putting pressure on nearby tissue
• By increasing pressure within the skull (intracranial pressure) because the tumor takes up space
• By causing fluids to accumulate in the brain
• By blocking normal circulation of cerebrospinal fluid through the spaces within the brain
• By causing bleeding

Symptoms

Symptoms occur whether a brain tumor is noncancerous or cancerous. Noncancerous tumors grow slowly and may become quite large before causing symptoms.

A brain tumor can cause many different symptoms, and symptoms may occur suddenly or develop gradually. Which symptoms develop first and how they develop depend on the tumor's size, growth rate, and location. In some parts of the brain, even a small tumor can have devastating effects. In other parts of the brain, tumors can grow relatively large before any symptoms appear. As the tumor grows, it pushes and stretches but usually does not destroy nerve tissue, which can compensate for these changes very well. Thus, symptoms may not develop at first.

Many symptoms result from increased pressure within the skull. The most common is a headache (see Headaches: Introduction), which is often the first symptom. However, most headaches are not caused by brain tumors. A headache due to a brain tumor usually recurs more and more often as time passes. It eventually becomes constant, without relief. It is often worse when people lie down. The headache may awaken people from sleep. A gradually growing tumor causes a headache that typically is worse when people first awaken. If headaches with these characteristics start in people who have not had headaches before, a brain tumor may be the cause.

Often, increased pressure within the skull also affects mental function and mood. The personality may change. For example, people may become withdrawn, moody, and, often, inefficient at work. They may feel drowsy, confused, and unable to think. Such symptoms are often more apparent to family members and co-workers than to the affected person. Depression and anxiety, especially if either develops suddenly, may be an early symptom of a brain tumor. People may behave bizarrely. They may become uninhibited or behave in ways they never have before. In older people, certain brain tumors cause symptoms that may be mistaken for those of dementia (see Delirium and Dementia: Dementia).

Other common symptoms of a brain tumor include vertigo, loss of balance, and incoordination. Later, as the pressure within the skull increases, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, increased drowsiness, intermittent fever, and even coma may occur. Vision may blur suddenly when people change positions. Some brain tumors, usually primary tumors, cause seizures.

Depending on which area of the brain is affected (see Brain Dysfunction: Dysfunction by Location), a tumor can do any of the following:

• Cause an arm, a leg, or one side of the body to become weak or paralyzed
• Impair the ability to feel heat, cold, pressure, a light touch, or sharp objects
• Make people unable to express or understand language.
• Increase or decrease the pulse and breathing rates if the tumor compresses the brain stem
• Reduce alertness
• Impair the ability to hear, smell, or see (causing such symptoms as double vision and loss of vision)

For example, a pituitary tumor may press on the nearby optic nerves (cranial nerve II), which are involved in vision, and thus impair peripheral vision. Any of these symptoms suggests a serious disorder and requires immediate medical attention.

If a tumor blocks the flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the spaces within the brain (ventricles), fluid may accumulate in the ventricles, causing them to enlarge (a condition called hydrocephalus). As a result, pressure within the skull increases. In addition to other symptoms of increased pressure, hydrocephalus makes turning the eyes upward difficult. In infants and very young children, the head enlarges.

If the pressure within the skull is greatly increased, the brain may be pushed downward because the skull cannot expand. Herniation of the brain (see Head Injuries:Introduction) may result. There are two main types:

• Transtentorial herniation: The upper part of the brain (cerebrum) is forced through the narrow opening (the tentorial notch) in the relatively rigid tissue that separates the cerebrum from the lower parts of the brain (cerebellum and brain stem). In people with this type of herniation, consciousness is reduced. The side of the body opposite the tumor may be paralyzed.
• Tonsillar herniation: A tumor that originates in the lower part of the brain pushes the lowest part of the cerebellum (cerebellar tonsils) through the opening at the base of the skull (foramen magnum). As a result, the brain stem, which controls breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, is compressed and malfunctions. If not diagnosed and treated immediately, a tonsillar herniation rapidly results in coma and death.

People with metastases to the brain may also have symptoms related to the original cancer. For example, if the cancer originated in the lungs, people may cough up bloody mucus. With metastases, weight loss is common.

Symptoms worsen over time unless the tumor is treated. With treatment, particularly for benign tumors, some people completely recover. For others, life span is shortened, sometimes greatly. The outcome depends on the type and location of the tumor.

Common Symptoms of Some Brain Tumors Astrocytomas and Oligodendrogliomas Some astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas grow slowly and may initially cause only seizures. Others (anaplastic astrocytomas and anaplastic oligodendrogliomas) grow fast and are cancerous. They can cause various symptoms of brain dysfunction. Glioblastoma multiforme, a type of astrocytoma, grows so fast that it increases pressure in the brain, causing headaches and slowed thinking. If the pressure becomes high enough, drowsiness, then coma may result. Symptoms vary depending on the tumor's location. Frontal lobes (located behind the forehead): Tumors located here can cause weakness and personality changes. If they develop in the dominant frontal lobe (the left lobe in most people and the right lobe in some left-handers), they can cause speech disturbances. Parietal lobes (located behind the frontal lobes): Tumors located here can cause loss of or changes in sensation. Sometimes vision is partially lost in both eyes so that neither eye can see the side opposite the tumor. Temporal lobes (located above the ears): Tumors located here can cause seizures and, if they develop on the dominant side, the inability to understand and use language. Occipital lobes (toward the back of the head): Tumors located here can cause partial loss of vision in both eyes. In or near the cerebellum (above the back of the neck): Tumors located here, especially medulloblastomas in children, can cause alterations in eye movements, incoordination, unsteadiness in walking, and sometimes hearing loss and vertigo. They can block the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid, causing fluid to accumulate in the spaces within the brain (ventricles). As a result, the ventricles enlarge (a condition called hydrocephalus), and pressure within the skull increases. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, vomiting, difficulty turning the eyes upward, and lethargy. In infants, the head enlarges. Greatly increased pressure can cause herniation of the brain, which can result in coma and death. Meningiomas Meningiomas are usually noncancerous but may recur after they are removed. They occur more often in women and usually appear in people aged 40 to 60, but they can begin growing during childhood or later life. Symptoms depend on where the tumor develops. They may include weakness or numbness, seizures, an impaired sense of smell, changes in vision, and impaired mental function. In older people, a meningioma may cause dementia. Pineal Tumors Pineal tumors usually develop during childhood and often cause early puberty. They can block the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain, leading to hydrocephalus. The most common type of pineal tumor is a germ cell tumor. Symptoms include the inability to look up and drooping eyelids. Pituitary Gland Tumors The pituitary gland, located at the base of the skull, controls much of the body's endocrine system. Tumors of the pituitary gland (pituitary adenomas) are usually noncancerous. They may secrete abnormally large amounts of pituitary hormones or block production of hormones. When large amounts of hormones are secreted, effects vary depending on which hormone is involved. For growth hormone, extreme height (gigantism) or disproportionate enlargement of the head, face, hands, feet, and chest (acromegaly) For corticotropin, Cushing's syndrome For thyroid-stimulating hormone, hyperthyroidism For prolactin, the cessation of menstrual periods (amenorrhea) in women, production of breast milk in women who are not breastfeeding (galactorrhea), and, in men, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and enlargement of the breasts (gynecomastia) Pituitary gland tumors can block hormone production by destroying the tissues in the pituitary gland that secrete hormones, eventually resulting in insufficient levels of these hormones in the body. Headaches commonly occur. If the tumor enlarges, peripheral vision in both eyes is lost.

Diagnosis

Doctors consider the possibility of a brain tumor in people who have had a seizure for the first time or who have the characteristic symptoms. Although doctors can often detect brain dysfunction during a physical examination, other procedures are needed to diagnose a brain tumor.

Standard x-rays of the skull can detect tumors that erode bone (such as a meningioma or pituitary adenoma). However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are more useful because they can detect all types of brain tumors. They can also show the tumor's size and exact position in great detail. When a brain tumor is detected, more diagnostic procedures are done to determine the particular kind.

Sometimes a spinal tap (lumbar puncture—see Diagnosis of Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders:Procedures) is done to obtain cerebrospinal fluid for examination under a microscope. This procedure is done when doctors suspect that the tumor has invaded the layers of tissues that cover the brain (meninges), often compressing the cranial nerves, blocking the absorption of cerebrospinal fluid, or both. The procedure may also help when the diagnosis or the type of tumor is unclear. Cerebrospinal fluid may contain cancer cells. However, a spinal tap cannot be done in people who have a large tumor that is increasing pressure within the skull. In these people, removing cerebrospinal fluid during a spinal tap may cause the tumor to move, resulting in herniation of the brain.

A biopsy of the tumor (removal of a sample of the tumor for examination under a microscope) is usually needed to identify the type of tumor, including whether it is cancerous. A biopsy may be done during surgery in which all or part of the tumor is removed. If a tumor is difficult to reach, a biopsy may be done using three-dimensional needle placement (stereotactic biopsy) with CT, which enables doctors to precisely locate the tumor.

Treatment

Treatment of a brain tumor depends on its location and type. When possible, the tumor is removed surgically in a procedure called craniotomy (which involves opening the skull). Some brain tumors can be removed with little or no damage to the brain. However, many grow in an area that makes removal by traditional surgery difficult or impossible without destroying essential structures.

Traditional surgery sometimes causes brain damage that can lead to symptoms such as partial paralysis, changes in sensation, weakness, and impaired mental function. Nevertheless, removing a tumor—whether cancerous or noncancerous—is essential if its growth threatens important brain structures. Even when a cure is impossible, surgery may be useful to reduce the tumor's size, relieve symptoms, and help doctors determine whether other treatments, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, are warranted.

Noncancerous Tumors: Surgical removal is often safe and cures the person. However, very small tumors and tumors in older people may be left in place as long as they are not causing symptoms. Sometimes radiation therapy is given after surgery to destroy any remaining tumor cells. Radiosugery focuses the radiation and is effective in treating noncancerous tumors such as meningiomas and acoustic neuromas. Therefore, radiosurgery often is used instead of traditional surgery for these tumors.

Cancerous Brain Tumors: Usually, a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy is used. As much of the tumor as can be removed safely is removed, and then radiation therapy is begun. Radiation therapy is given over a course of several weeks. Radiosurgery is used when traditional surgery cannot be, especially for the treatment of metastases.

For very aggressive tumors, chemotherapy is given with radiation therapy. Radiation therapy plus chemotherapy rarely cures but may shrink a tumor enough to keep it under control for many months or even years.

After radiation therapy, ongoing chemotherapy is used to treat some types of cancerous brain tumors. Chemotherapy appears to be particularly effective in treating anaplastic oligodendrogliomas.

Increased Pressure Within the Skull: This extremely serious condition requires immediate medical attention. Drugs such as mannitol and corticosteroids are usually given by injection to reduce the pressure and prevent herniation. They reduce swelling around the tumor. Within days or sometimes hours, corticosteroids can often restore functions lost because of the tumor and relieve headache, even if the tumor is large.

If the tumor is blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the spaces within the brain, a device may be used to drain the cerebrospinal fluid and thus reduce the risk of herniation. The device consists of a small tube (catheter) connected to a gauge that measures the pressure within the skull. The tube is inserted through a tiny opening drilled in the skull. A local anesthetic (usually plus a sedative) or a general anesthetic may be used. The tube is removed or converted to a permanent drain (shunt) after a few days. During this time, doctors surgically remove all or part of the tumor or use radiosurgery or radiation therapy to reduce the size of the tumor and thus relieve the blockage.

Metastases: Treatment depends largely on where the cancer originated. Radiation therapy directed at the metastases in the brain is often used. Surgical removal may benefit people who have only a single metastasis. Sometimes radiosurgery is used.

Some experimental treatments, such as implantation of pellets containing chemotherapy drugs or of radioactive pellets in the tumor, are being tried.

End-of-Life Issues: People with cancerous brain tumors have a limited life expectancy and are likely to become unable to make decisions about medical care. Consequently, establishing advance directives is advisable (see Legal and Ethical Issues: Advance Directives). Advance directives can help a doctor determine what kind of care people want if they become unable to make decisions about medical care.

Many cancer centers, especially those with hospice facilities, provide counseling and home health services.

Understanding Tumor Treatment Craniotomy: After part of the scalp is shaved, an incision is made through the skin. A high-speed drill and a special saw are used to remove a small piece of bone above the tumor. The tumor is located and removed using one of the following: A scalpel may be used to cut out the tumor. A laser may be used to vaporize the tumor. A device that emits ultrasound waves may be used to break the tumor apart, so that the pieces can be suctioned out (aspirated). Lasers and ultrasound devices are used to remove tumors that would be difficult to cut out. Usually, the bone is then replaced and the incision stitched closed. Stereotactic techniques: These techniques are ways to localize tumors very precisely. Computers are used to produce a three-dimensional image. The three-dimensional image can be obtained by attaching a light-weight metal imaging frame with a series of rods to the person's skull. A local anesthetic is given, and the pins are attached to the skull, piercing the skin. The rods appear as dots on a CT scan, providing reference points, which help locate the tumor. Other devices, such as a viewing wand or compass system, do not involve attaching a frame and may be used instead. Stereotactic techniques can be used to biopsy or remove tumors or to insert implants containing a chemotherapy drug or radioactive pellets. Radiosurgery: Radiosurgery is not really surgery because no incision is required. Focused radiation is used to destroy a tumor. Several machines, including a gamma knife and a linear accelerator, can produce this type of radiation. When a gamma knife is used, an imaging frame is attached to the person's skull. The person lies on a sliding bed, and a large helmet with holes in it is placed over the frame. The head of the bed is then slid into a globe that contains radioactive cobalt. Radiation passes through the holes in the helmet and is aimed precisely at the tumor. A linear accelerator circles the head of the person, who lies on a sliding bed. The linear accelerator rotates around the person and aims radiation precisely at the tumor from different angles. Implants: After a tumor is removed and before the skull and incision are closed, wafers soaked with a chemotherapy drug may be placed in the space where the tumor was. As the wafers gradually dissolve, they release the drug to destroy any remaining cancer cells. A thin tube (catheter) may be inserted through an incision and used to place radioactive implants directly into the tumor. The implants may be removed after a few days or months or may be left in place. Unlike people who have externally applied radiation therapy, people who have radioactive implants are radioactive for a time (that is, they give off radiation). They thus need to take precautions as advised by their doctor. After this procedure, surgery may be necessary to remove dead cancer cells. Shunts: If a tumor causes pressure within the skull to increase, a shunt may be surgically placed. A shunt is a thin piece of tubing that is inserted into one of the spaces of the brain (ventricles) or sometimes into the space around the spine that contains cerebrospinal fluid (subarachnoid space). The other end of the tubing is threaded under the skin from the head usually to the abdominal cavity. Excess cerebrospinal fluid is drained from the brain into the abdominal cavity, where it is absorbed. The shunt contains a one-way valve that opens when there is too much fluid in the brain. Shunts may be temporary (until the tumor is removed) or permanent.

Last full review/revision February 2008 by William R. Shapiro, MD