Brain Tumor Symptoms
What is Brain Tumor?
The brain is a spongy, soft mass of tissues. Brain is protected by the skull and three thin membranes which are called as meninges. Tumor that started in tissues of brain is called as primary brain tumor. Primary brain tumor is based on type of cell and part of the brain in which they started. The most ordinary primary brain tumor is gliomas. They started in the glial cells. Following are the types of the gliomas,
- Astrocytoma - The tumor occurs from the astrocytes which are star-shaped glial cells. In the adults these star shaped glial cells are occurs in cerebrum and in case of children these cells are occur in the cerebrum, in brain stem and in the cerebellum. Astrocytoma of grade III is called anthe anaplastic astrocytoma and astrocytoma of grade IV is normally called a glioblastoma multiforme.
- Brain stem glioma - This tumor is arises at lower part of the brain. This brain stem gloma mostly occur in the young children and adults of the middle age.
- Ependymoma - The tumor occurs from those cells that line the central or ventricle canal of the spinal cord. In the children and younger they are mostly occurred.
- Oligodendroglioma - This tumor occurs very rarely. It occurs from the cells which creates the fatty substances responsible for covering and protecting nerves. Cerebrum is the main place in which these tumors mainly occur. They develop gradually and generally not spread in to the nearer tissues of brain. This is mostly occurring in adults of middle age.
- Medulloblastoma - This tumor normally occurs in the in the cerebellum and mostly occur in children.
- Meningioma - This is slow growing tumor that occurs in the meninges.
- Schwannoma - This tumor begins from the Schwann cell and occurs in the adults.
- Craniopharyngioma - It is started at the base of the brain and occurs in children.
- Germ cell tumor of the brain - This type of tumor occurs in the people whose age is above 30 years.
- Pineal region tumor - This brain tumor is rarely occurring and rises in or near to the pineal gland.
Brain Tumor Symptoms:
Brain tumor symptoms are depends on the patient and vary from patient to patient. Some of these symptoms may also occur in normal patient (patient do not having brain tumor). So only safe way of concluding that patient is having brain tumor not is to see the doctor and get scanning of the brain.
- Headaches: 46 percent of the people are suffering from headaches. But this is not sure shot symptom of the brain tumor because most of the people have headache for different reasons.
- Seizures: This is the second symptom which is also most common. It is also causes because of other things such as Seizures can also be caused by other things such as high fever, epilepsy, stroke, trauma, and many more. If a person had never suffering from seizure before, it is very serious and must get the scanning of the brain.
- Nausea and Vomiting: 22 percent of the people those having brain tumor, suffering from nausea and vomiting.
- Vision or hearing problems: 25 percent people suffering from this hearing and/ or vision problem.
- Problems with weakness of the arms, legs or face muscles, and strange sensations in your head or hands: 25 percent people suffering from weakness problem of the legs, arms or in muscles of the face.
- Behavioral and cognitive problems: It includes the problems such as recent memory problem, unable to concentrate, unable to find right words, failure of inhibition etc.
Diagnosis of brain tumor: If the brain tumor symptoms are found in a person, then doctor suggest the following tests which diagnosed the brain tumor.
- Physical exam - General brain tumor symptoms and signs of health are checked by the doctor.
- Neurological exam - The doctor verifies the muscle strength, alertness, coordination, responses, and reply to pain. Doctor also checks the eyes for checking swelling caused because of tumor on the nerve which is connected with brain and eye.
- CT scan - This is x-ray machine connected with computer that takes brief picture of the head. Special type/color of the injection is given to the patient so the picture of the brain shows up clearly and shows tumor in the brain.
- MRI - A strong magnet connected to a computer that takes complete picture of inside parts of the body. Picture of these parts are observed on the computer or print also can be taken. Some of the times special injection is given to the patient to show dissimilarities in brain tissue. This picture proves the tumor or any other faults in the body.
- Angiogram
- Skull x-ray
- Spinal tap
- Myelogram
- Biopsy
- Surgeons
Treatment of brain tumor:
Treatment of brain tumor depends on site and type of tumor and condition of the patient. Prime treatment mostly for primary brain tumor is Surgery. In surgery skull is opened which is called as craniotomy. This is performed beneath common anesthesia. Scalp is shaved, before start of surgery. Then surgeon makes cut in the scalp and uses particular saw for removing the bone of the scale. After removing the tumor, surgeon again covers the scale with that bone or with piece of fabric or metal.
Some of the historical tumors can be treated by totally removing it. It includes meningiomas, neurofibromas, acoustic schwannomas and the low-grade astrocytomas. Sometimes, it may see that tumor will be under control but it will happen again. Another operation can be done for improving the control.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (Gamma knife surgery) is developing the treatment of problems related to brain. For this treatment helmet is used. This helmet has small holes used for radiation of gamma rays. This is painless process generally performed under anesthesia. Normally it takes 15 to 40 minutes depending on size of treatment. This procedure is repeated until disease is cured.
Radiation therapy is also used as a complimentary treatment for the brain tumor. It is used in case when surgery is not successful for removing whole tumor. Chemotherapy is also used in some situations but in mixture with radiation therapy.
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