Brain Tumors: A General Overview
Brain tumors are growths occurring within the skull, affecting brain cells, nerves, and surrounding membranes. Approximately 100,000 people are diagnosed each year. they are diverse,with around 150 different types,categorized as primary or metastatic.
Primary Brain Tumors originate in the brain itself.These are further divided into:
Intra-brain tumors: Arising from brain cells (like gliomas and lymphoma).
Extra-brain tumors: Developing in cranial nerves or surrounding membranes (like meningiomas, schwannomas, and pituitary adenomas).
Gliomas, meningiomas, pituitary adenomas, and schwannomas comprise roughly 80% of primary brain tumors. These can occur at any age, but in children (under 15), astrocytomas, germ cell tumors, medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma, and ependymoma are more common.
Metastatic brain Tumors occur when cancer from other parts of the body (often the lungs, breast, or digestive system) spreads to the brain, accounting for about 17% of brain tumor cases. they are frequently enough found in people already undergoing cancer treatment, or discovered during investigation of brain tumor symptoms, leading to the identification of the primary cancer source.
Brain tumors are classified as benign (slow-growing, well-defined) or malignant (rapidly growing, poorly defined). while benign tumors are less aggressive, their location can still make them arduous to treat.
If a brain tumor is suspected, consulting a neurosurgeon is crucial for diagnosis and treatment options.
