Brain tumor symptoms & types

Brain cancer vs. brain tumor

All brain cancers are tumors, but not all brain tumors are cancerous. Noncancerous brain tumors are called benign brain tumors.

Brain cancer

Brain cancer involves tumors that grow rapidly and invade surrounding healthy brain structures. Brain cancer can be life-threatening due to the changes it causes to the vital structures of the brain. Some examples of brain cancers that originate in or near the brain include chondrosarcoma, medulloblastoma and olfactory neuroblastoma.

Other cancerous brain tumors originate from cancer cells that travel to the brain from other parts of the body. They spread through the bloodstream and land inside the brain. People with a metastatic brain tumor have brain cancer.

Metastatic tumors in the brain are about four times more common than primary brain tumors, which originate in the brain itself. They can grow rapidly, crowding or invading nearby brain tissue. Common cancers that can spread to the brain are:

• Breast cancer
• Colon cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Lung cancer
• Skin cancer (melanoma)

Gliomas

A glioma is a primary brain tumor (a tumor that arises from the brain, spinal cord and associated tissues). It forms when glial cells grow out of control. Normally, these cells support nerves and help your central nervous system work. Gliomas usually grow in the brain but can also form in the spinal cord. About 25%-30% of brain tumors are gliomas.

Gliomas are cancerous, but some grow very slowly. They don’t usually spread outside the brain or spine, but are life-threatening because they can:

• Be hard to reach and treat with surgery
• Grow into other areas of the brain

Types of gliomas

There are three main types of gliomas, grouped by the type of glial cell they start in. Gliomas include:

• Ependymomas: Ependymomas usually form in the ventricles of the brain or spinal cord. They may spread through cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord), but don’t spread outside the brain or spine. They’re more common in children than adults.
• Astrocytomas: These brain tumors start in cells called astrocytes. Grade 1 astrocytomas are the most common gliomas in children. A glioblastoma is a grade 4 astrocytoma that grows very quickly and is the most common cancerous brain tumor in adults.
• Oligodendrogliomas: These gliomas tend to grow more slowly but can become more aggressive over time. Like ependymomas, they rarely spread outside the brain or spinal cord. They’re more common in adults than children.

Risk factors for glioma

Anyone can develop a glioma, but the following factors may increase your risk:

• Gender: Gliomas are slightly more common in men than women.
• Radiation or toxin exposure: Repeated or prolonged exposure to radiation or certain chemicals may increase your risk.
• Family history: Some inherited genetic disorders may increase your risk of gliomas.
• Age: Gliomas are most common in adults over 65 and children under 12.
• Ethnicity: White people may be more likely to develop gliomas than other races.

Meningiomas

Meningiomas are also primary brain tumors, and they’re usually found on the outside surface of the brain. They’re usually benign and develop from cells that line the brain coverings (meninges). They can be removed with surgery, but more aggressive ones require radiation therapy.

When a doctor diagnoses meningioma, you'll get further tests to find out how the tumor is likely to behave. Based on this data, a neurosurgeon will recommend removing the tumor or watching it to see if it grows. Most meningiomas don’t spread, but over time they can get large.

Larger meningiomas can block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in hydrocephalus (water on the brain), which can affect gait and memory. These tumors in other parts of the brain can affect your sense of smell, vision, hearing or even the function of your pituitary gland.

Benign brain tumors

These primary brain tumors typically grow slowly, have distinct borders and rarely spread. Even when they’re benign, tumors in the brain can still be dangerous. They can damage and compress parts of the brain, causing severe dysfunction. Benign brain tumors located in a vital area of the brain can be life-threatening. Very rarely, a benign brain tumor can become cancerous.

The following are types of tumors in the brain that are almost always benign:

• Pituitary adenoma: These slow-growing brain tumors develop from the pituitary gland. They can cause vision and hormonal problems. Fortunately for patients affected by them, adenomas are benign and treatable with medication or surgery.
• Craniopharyngioma: These brain tumors grow near the pituitary gland. They often press on nerves, blood vessels or parts of the brain around the pituitary gland, causing vision and hormonal issues. They usually affect children and teens as well as adults over 50.
• Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma): These slow-growing brain tumors affect the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. They usually develop in middle-aged adults and often cause hearing loss.
• Osteoma: These slow-growing bone tumors usually develop on the base of your skull or on your facial bones. In general, osteoma tumors don’t cause any symptoms, but the location of the tumor and its size can cause problems with breathing, vision or hearing. Osteoma causes are unknown and the tumors can affect anyone.

Diagnosis and treatment for brain cancer and benign tumors in the brain

Diagnosis usually begins with a visit with your primary care doctor. They’ll give you a physical exam, ask you about your symptoms and order imaging and other tests. Some brain tumors can be diagnosed with an MRI or CT scan and require no further testing because the image clearly defines the type of tumor. In most other cases when a mass appears on an imaging test, the doctor will need to go inside the brain to get a tissue sample for further testing.

Some small, benign brain tumors can be treated with medication or simply observed over time. There are also brain tumor treatment options without surgery, which includes chemotherapy and radiation. However, many brain tumors are best treated with surgery. Your Advocate team will explain brain and spinal cancer symptoms, diagnosis, treatments and more.