Brain Tumor: Symptoms and Treatment

Brain Tumor: Symptoms and Treatment

Symptoms of a brain tumor may include vomiting, severe headaches, speech and vision disturbances, weakness in the arms and legs. Individuals experiencing symptoms of a brain tumor should seek consultation with a Neurologist or a Neurosurgeon. For successful treatment of brain tumors, a fully equipped center, a team approach, and a multidisciplinary treatment perspective are crucial.

Brain Tumor: What is it?

A tumor refers to the growth of tissue in a location where it is not supposed to be or the uncontrolled growth of any tissue in a place where it is supposed to be. This definition encompasses benign growths such as fatty tissue and moles, which may not be considered significant in our bodies. However, brain tumors have an exceptional nature due to the confined space within the skull. Even though not all tumors are lethal, brain tumors pose a unique risk due to their location. Therefore, all brain tumors, regardless of their malignancy, should be managed and treated correctly.

Symptoms

Symptoms play a crucial role in diagnosing brain tumors. Both benign and malignant brain tumors can increase intracranial pressure (within the skull) as they grow. This can lead to displacement of the brain or invasion of brain tissue and nerves, disrupting their functions. Symptoms of a brain tumor manifest as increased intracranial pressure. Signs of increased intracranial pressure include headaches, apathy (slowed movements and reduced facial expressions), nausea, vomiting, epileptic seizures, weakness in specific body parts depending on the tumor location, personality changes, and impairments in abilities like calculation or writing. Hormonal disruptions and related clinical symptoms are also indicators of a brain tumor. For instance, early puberty, growth in hands and feet, menstrual cycle irregularities, hyperthyroidism, cortisol deficiency, or excess should be monitored. It is essential to seek medical attention upon noticing any of these symptoms of a brain tumor.

Causes and Formation

Two significant explanations exist for how brain tumors form: originating from brain cells or spreading from another area. If a brain tumor originates from brain cells, it is classified as either benign or malignant. The incidence rate of brain tumors in the general population ranges from 3 to 5 cases per 100,000 individuals. Brain tumors are more common in males than females and are more prevalent in the white population. Meningiomas, which are benign tumors, are more common in females. Brain tumors can occur at any age, with variations in frequency across different age groups. For example, malignant brain tumors are more common in children and individuals over 60 years old, while benign tumors are more prevalent in other age groups.

Although the exact causes of brain tumors are not fully understood, a family history of brain tumors, being of white ethnicity, male gender, and exposure to radiation are considered significant risk factors. Additionally, while the impact of cell phone usage on brain tumor risk has not yet been conclusively proven, it is thought to influence the risk of brain tumors.

Brain Tumor Types

Brain tumors are classified as primary or secondary. Primary brain tumors originate from brain cells and can be benign or malignant. Secondary brain tumors occur when cancerous cells from another part of the body spread to the brain.

Benign Brain Tumors: Benign brain tumors do not originate from brain cells and have a slow growth rate. They can typically be easily separated from brain tissue. However, when benign tumors reach a certain size, they can exert pressure on sensitive areas of the brain, leading to serious health problems. While not cancerous, benign brain tumors may pose a risk of transforming into malignant tumors over time.

Malignant Brain Tumors: Malignant brain tumors consist of cancerous cells and tend to grow more rapidly than benign tumors, potentially causing damage to surrounding brain tissue. Completely removing malignant brain tumors through surgery is challenging because the tumor tissue is intertwined with brain functions; any surgically removed tissue can result in loss of function. Additionally, there is a risk of tumor recurrence after surgery. Metastatic Tumors, which spread from a different part of the body to the brain, are also considered malignant tumors.

Diagnosis

Technologies such as diffusion MRI, DTI MRI, functional MRI, perfusion MRI, and MR spectroscopy provide detailed information about tumor characteristics, metabolic and biochemical composition, as well as their relationship with essential brain functions and pathways. These advanced MRI techniques facilitate treatment decisions by providing comprehensive data on brain lesions.

The way brain tumors are detected is crucial. The gold standard for diagnosing brain tumors is MRI, which provides a rough idea of the type of brain tumor, followed by pathological laboratory examination to confirm whether it is indeed a brain tumor. Advanced imaging techniques are extremely important for detailed visualization and identification of brain tumors, aiding in treatment planning. Technological advancements greatly facilitate diagnosis and characterization of pathologies. “CT angiography,” where contrast material is administered to the patient, is significant in diagnosing brain vascular diseases, allowing easy visualization of vascular structure. The primary imaging method for evaluating brain tissue and diseases is MRI, or “magnetic resonance imaging.” While standard MRI imaging provides information only about the brain’s anatomical and structural condition, new technologies enable understanding of its metabolic, biochemical, and hemodynamic structure. Conducting biopsies through conventional methods to obtain information about lesions in the brain can be difficult, risky, and time-consuming. Advanced MRI imaging techniques can determine whether suspected lesions in the brain are tumors. Techniques such as diffusion MRI, DTI MRI, functional MRI, perfusion MRI, and MR spectroscopy allow evaluation of the extent, type, metabolic-biochemical structure of the tumor, as well as its relationship with areas and pathways responsible for speech, vision, and movement. Data obtained from advanced MRI imaging techniques help determine treatment approaches.

Treatment

Personalized treatment is essential for the management of brain tumors. The goal of brain tumor treatment is to combat the tumor while preserving the patient’s quality of life and extending their lifespan as much as possible. Several factors, including tumor type, location, the patient’s age, overall health, and the presence of additional medical conditions, influence treatment decisions, leading to an individualized approach and increased success rates. Surgical intervention is often the primary treatment for malignant brain tumors, sometimes supplemented with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of both. Radiation therapy equipped with stereotactic targeting systems reduces the potential side effects of brain tumor surgery while significantly enhancing treatment efficacy.

There are two surgical options for brain tumor treatment: brain biopsy or microsurgery.

In brain biopsy, a small hole is made near the tumor to obtain a sample for determining the tumor type and planning treatment. This procedure is used for deep-seated tumors that do not cause intracranial pressure but require a diagnosis. After the biopsy, the patient is typically discharged within one day.

Microsurgery aims to remove the entire tumor and reduce intracranial pressure. It allows for precise removal of the tumor while minimizing damage to essential brain regions responsible for speech, vision, or movement. Microsurgery minimizes the risk of postoperative complications and ensures the preservation of brain functions.

Postoperative Care

Due to the location of brain tumors, both preoperative and postoperative functional impairments may occur. Following brain tumor surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation programs are recommended. Additionally, patients with brain tumors should receive psychological support both before and after surgery. The outlook and care perspective for individuals with brain tumors are as crucial as the surgical intervention itself.